When Ato Gebremedhin (formerly Aba Paulos) recently erected his statue in Addis Ababa, he has drawn widespread condemnation. Even some religious Woyannes were unable to defend his action. The erection of his own statue, however, is just one part of the self-promotion campaign Aba Diabilos has been waging at the expense of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
Ethiopian Review Intelligence Unit has learned that Orthodox Churches in Ethiopia are being forced to display larger-than-life size posters of the fake patriarch as shown below.
Ancient Ethiopian monasteries are falling apart due to lack of funds needed for maintenance, and yet, the Church’s scarce resources are being used to erect bronze statues and display posters of a gun-totting Woyanne cadre who claims to be a pope.
Such self-promotion is also considered sacrilegious among followers of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
Ato Gebremedhin has been trampling upon Ethiopian Orthodox Church’s rules, traditions and customs ever since Woyanne chased away the legitimate patriarch and installed him as head of the Church.
Upon taking over the church, he started to wear a white robe instead of the black robe Orthodox priests traditionally wear, show off a large gold cross necklace, and carry a handgun. Now he orders the erection of his statutes, and churches are being forced to display his posters like a Hollywood celebrity. What’s next?
Leading up to the fake “demonstration” the TPLF or Meles Zenawi’s supporters conducted earlier this month (August 5), they run an ad detailing the reasons for the event. The sign read, “Come for a peaceful demonstration. A huge turnout Demonstration at the White House and State Dept is planned for August 5, 2010 at… in support of Ethiopia’s effort to make poverty a thing of the past, continuous Economic growth and its right to use the Nile River, and in opposition to the recent terrorist acts against our people in Uganda.”
Where to start; so much to ponder?… But first, let’s look at the statement of “peaceful demonstration.” What would “peaceful” mean to a group that put a nation in shackles, committed major crimes on Ethiopians in the Ogaden, Gambella Oromo and roasted civilians in Somalia like roaches; deported thousands of Eritreans after they stole their hard-earned wealth? What would “peaceful demonstration” mean to Meles Zenawi and his Aigaforum criminal partners that shot direct hundreds of innocent civilians in front of the whole world?
Let’s look at what it would mean to “Demonstrate to support their efforts to make poverty a thing of the past.” How will demonstration at the State Department alleviate poverty? Is it not US that provides the largest financial, material, military and diplomatic support of the defunct Meles Zenawi’s TPLF regime? By all accounts, Ethiopia is and has been the largest recipient of US and Western aid. Meles Zenawi has enjoyed more access to Western and US leaders than any other African leader in history. He attends all the G-8, G-20 and many of the other major international leaders’ gatherings. He has befriended such major proponents of aid for Africa as Geoffrey Sachs and others. They support him on his endeavors to collect major funding for all types aid by applying their theories, methodologies or schemes, if you will. In other words, he never lacked support of those enablers that give him aid willingly. In fact, he remains the poster child of aid handlers. He has been the choice spokesperson for foreign aid and funds generated, supposedly for the “poor” in underdeveloped countries. Then, why did he need to demonstrate outside the doors of the State Department for aid, all of a sudden? It is curious to see Meles, who bombarded the world and Ethiopians with rosy economic growth-figures, which should have placed Ethiopia in the top of developed countries categories by now, begging outside the State Department.
The second stated reason for the demonstration was, “Continuous Economic growth and its right to use the Nile River.” Here again, more questions than answers. Why would a country that claims to have successfully organized Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Kenya and signed an agreement need, the US regarding the right of the Nile river use? Why did Meles need to demonstrate when he has signed an accord with Egypt in July 1993 in Cairo? Article 6 of the accord states:
“The two parties agree on the necessity of the conservation and protection of the Nile Waters. In this regard, they undertake to consult and cooperate in projects that are mutually advantageous, such as projects that would enhance the volume of flow and reduce the loss of Nile Waters through comprehensive and integrated development schemes.”
In addition, Meles Zenawi signed another agreement with Cairo acknowledging Egypt’s quota over Nile River in December of 2009. Therefore, why is he demonstrating after the fact? How is US involvement going to change the agreement? Furthermore, why would the US put itself in a position to have to choose between Egypt and Ethiopia? Why would the US antagonize Egypt who has been a staunch ally and key supporter of Israel and US policies in the Middle East for decades? Is Meles Zenawi giving the US an ultimatum you are either with Ethiopia or with Egypt?
The third reason for the demonstration was “Opposition to the recent terrorist acts against our people in Uganda.” Again, questions, questions and questions yet, no explanation. First, why tie poverty alleviation to anti terror campaign? Secondly, Ethiopia is the number one beneficiary of the billions spent on the war on terror. Then, why did Meles see a need to demonstrate? Is he looking for additional funding? Did the US stop providing him with the funds? Why demonstrate in opposition to a terror act in the US in front of the State Department? Is the US not supportive of Ethiopia’s efforts everywhere? Curiously, is the terrorist Al Shabab, sanctioned by the US? Is the US harboring and providing sanctuaries to Al Shabab?
Furthermore, the demonstration was, “In opposition to the recent terrorist acts against OUR people in Uganda.” How about those Eritreans that died in the blast in the Ethiopian restaurant? It is ironic; of all the people that died in that Ethiopian restaurant that evening, nearly all were Eritreans and yet, there is no mention of them. What is curious is Aigaforum is claiming their Eritrean friends will come and join the demonstrations while they failed to acknowledge Eritreans that died in the blast. The reality however, Meles-ovich or his criminal gangs of Aigaforum do not have Eritrean friends.
The Scoop
Meles Zenawi and his friend Yoweri Museveni believe that they can continue on receiving the financial gains they used to get during the Bush Administration. There are some in Meles’ circles saying, “Why farm when all you need is boots.” Sending troops for peacekeeping missions yields good cash for these despots. In 2007, the average cost per troop for the UN was as follows: $1,028 for pay and allowances, $303 supplementary pay for specialists, $68 for personal clothing gear and equipment and $5 for personal weaponry. These does not include logistical and troop transportation expenses, the further the distance and the rougher the road the more the money. Therefore, there is no incentive for the troop providing countries like Ethiopia to use shorter routs. For example, the distances from Addis Ababa to Port Mombassa is 1804, Addis Ababa to Port Sudan 1696, Addis Ababa Mogadishu 1520, Addis Ababa to Berbera 943 and Addis Ababa Djibouti 910 kilometers.
It is ironic that the bombings in Uganda happened just days before the African Union was to meet in Uganda. Ethiopia and Uganda are the countries that desperately wanted to change the Somalia Mission mandate and escalate the troop numbers to about 20, 000. They heavily relied on the bombings to convince the US and AU into changing the mandate from peace- keeping into active peace-enforcement. Their aim was to try to make the bombings into a 911 type of mandate that propelled the ouster of the Taliban from Afghanistan. That would have given them opportunities to unlimited funds and for extended period to hunt Al Shabab door to door. That failed and failed miserably because the US and AU rejected it outright.
Over the last five years, IGAD essentially replaced the African Union. Meles and Musevini used IGAD to pass their agendas using all kinds of trickery and went crazy thinking that they can keep hijacking African matters but run into a wall during the last AU session in Kampala. The dynamics have changed completely. The AU members have decided to take back the AU. The Community of Sahel-Saharan States CEN-SAD came with one voice and decisions to put a stop to it all and there was nothing any power could do to change that collective advantage..
Most importantly, in pursuing to change the mandate, Ethiopia and Uganda made the miscalculation by thinking that they can take ownership of the so-called “War on terror” from the US and the US rejected it. In other words, these despots let their greed and ill-perceived senses of confidence guide them into their failures. They failed in Somalia miserably. The TFG they tried to screw on to power failed to make a dent let along establish itself. Some analysts have said,” The idea that 8,000 or 10,000 ill equipped African troops are going to be able to defeat the insurgency is utterly delusional.” That is the reality. Meles and Museveni are mercenaries that could only take orders not the other way around. Their aim was to try to make money-using peacekeepers in Somalia not to bring peace or stability there.
As for the Nile, Meles-ovich is using the Nile as a wedge issue in order to change the subject from his domestic issues in the same manner that he used the Eritrean port of Assab for a while! That will not work because Ethiopians have outsmarted him and rejected his devious ploys. In fact, time has come that Ethiopians, Eritreans have started to work together, and it is certain that it will bear fruit.
Conclusion
What the demonstration exposed was that Meles-ovich and his cronies are in the outside looking in. They are about to get layoff notices. It is a sign of a shift in US policies. It was unthinkable for a while for Meles-ovich who enjoyed unfettered access to the State Department to send his cronies in a blues T-shirts (which looked like prisoners shirts) to shout outside the doors of the State Department. It is a true sign of desperation. After he “Won” the landslide victory, 99.6% to be exact, he was trying to show the US he has that type of support in the Diaspora. However, he was not able to bring enough people to fill a small restaurant. Meles-ovich and his Aigaforum cronies conveniently forgot that the US has expressed its disapproval of the election and stated that it did not meet international standards. That is also a reflection of the international community’s views. Meles went as far as the US and their Western allies could take him. However, at this point, Meles has become more of a liability than he is worth. In other words, he is increasingly isolated, loosing grip and sliding downward fast.
Meles-ovich thought that he cleaned house in Ethiopia and it was time to focus in the US by changing the subjects from domestic to terrorism, The Nile and poverty. He figured Ethiopian communities in the Diaspora would play dead and allow him to own their agendas. He was wrong, because they came roaring. They did not give him a chance. They held their own demonstration and took away from the attention he desperately thought to get. In reverse, he actually reinvigorated the Ethiopian communities and all his opposition. In other words, as always he miscalculated.
This was a great opportunity not only for Ethiopians but also for all peace loving people that want to rid this despot. By holding the failed demonstration, he hinted to all that he is not receiving the attention he needs from the US. That means, it is a great opportunity for the people of the region to press the US more into completely dropping him. Because, without US support he cannot survive a month even with China’s support. China will not go to war for him and certainly, China would not want the US to stop supporting Meles because they do not know what the alternative would look like. Therefore, it is time for all the people of the region to join hands and show the world what they feel and urge them to change their failed policies in the Horn of Africa.
I am astounded and disturbed by a gratuitous vilification, denunciation and resentment of Ato Shiferaw Abebe towards OLF. One can feel the fury of his pen and his unmitigated rants and bristling just to rebut a simple resolution by OLF inviting all stakeholders in the Empire for united front against the Wayannee controlled regime.
Unnecessary and pointless demagoguery is not a panacea to the Empire’s complex, intractable, social and political dilemmas. Ato Abebe inveighed against OLF with predictable rants of a grieved nefetegna instead of a sober analysis of the crisis confronting the region. Surely, OLF has its own foibles and shortcomings; however, it is the only credible entity in that wretched region who can act as an intermediary with good faith and authenticity among the contentious and quarrelsome organizations in the Empire. It is very difficult to put forward an idea for consideration in the present dysfunctional political culture that is prevailing in Ethiopia. The shrillness and savagery of the attack that was lobbed at OLF when it organized the AFD by the cacophonous bunch from EPRP was deafening. Ato Abebe’s canards have a familiar tone and genre spewed out by those who do not have a scintilla of civility nor intellectual integrity to offer a viable dialogue to remediate the exasperating ethnic and political chasms in the country.
If one scrutinize the totality of OLF’s contribution to the generic social and political struggle in Ethiopia for the past few decades, some minor setbacks notwithstanding, I have no doubt that history will absolve OLF as one of the major contributor to the struggle of all Ethiopians for freedom and dignity.
On the issues of national unity and the role of Oromo nation in general and that of the OLF in particular, there is a need to sketch a brief history of the Empire. Ethiopia was forged as an Empire in the last half of the 19th century by successive Abyssinian Emperors and warlords from the north. Emperor Menelik the II, as the most notable and in the case of the Oromo and other southern polities, he and his generals conquered and annexed a large stretch of land and population in the territories what is now regarded as southern Ethiopia. The grossly cruel atrocities that were committed against the Oromo nation and other nationalities in the course of empire building were very appalling. For the Abyssinians, these Imperial marches of conquest and annexation may be viewed as nation building of glory and gallantry. For the polities in the south, it was rivers of blood and tears. Menelik’s campaign against the Oromo and others in the south is well documented and even dubbed by some historians as the Southern Marches of Imperial Ethiopia, (books by Harold Marcus, Mohammad Hassan, Wendy James, and several other scholars on Ethiopia could be consulted). Even the vilest European subjugation of African peoples did not parallel the pillaging and desolation committed by Menelik’s raiding army in the conquered South. Through an extended and forceful subjugation/colonization from garrison towns that were established by the Imperial Army, the fate of the south in general and that of the Oromo nation was doomed and sealed to be part of the grand Imperial design of Emperor Menelik’s. “Greater Ethiopia”
It is against these historical contexts that we must embark when we engage in dialogue to sort out the complexities of “national /Oromo question”. Oromo Nation predates the onslaught of Abyssinian and European conquest and colonialism. It was not a modern nation with all the entrapments of a structured nation state. However, it existed like most African polities of the period, including that of many Abyssinia regions (i.e. Gonder Gojjem, Tgray, etc.) independent and self reliant of its resources, governed by republican legislative governance called Gadda democracy. Democracy permeated every aspects of Oromo culture. Gadda is a system that has an organizing structure of thoughts, concepts, doctrine and tenets which provided the basis for and –upon which identities constructed by the Oromo people.
At abebe’s comparison of OLF with TPLF and other Abyssinian organizations and their politics unmasks the convoluted and often arrogant political disposition of the Abyssinian elites. The notion that OLF is a failed and rudderless organization is risible. OLF, with all its shortcomings, is a major political organization that represents at minimum, forty percent of the Empires citizens. All things considered, OLF may not even need to coalesce with any group to be a contender in the Empire’s politics. However, to mitigate the chronic conflict of the whole region in general and the dysfunctional political culture of the Empire in particular, it behooves any adroit organization to embark up on some sort of rapprochement among all the stakeholders in the Empire. OLF’s call for a united front is a genuine and honest gesture. I know for a fact that OLF has a long and enduring cooperation with the stakeholder of the Southern polities, (i.e. Sidama, Somali, Afar, and Benenshagul.etc.). Hopefully, in the future the polities from the north will be comprised in as part of this pan-Ethiopian canopy to unify the Empire on the equal footing to all.
OLF is a product of contemporary Ethiopian history. Unlike multiple Ethiopian organizations that were formed by the political left of the 1970s or the innumerable Ethiopian political parties formed by the Diaspora leisure class, the OLF was given birth as a reaction to the abusive and opprobrious treatments Oromo nation was subjected to by successive Abyssinian rulers including the present Meles regime. It was and is the manifestation and aspiration of the Oromo to a long history of betrayal, treachery and unimaginable cultural and political oppression by the Abyssinian state and its apparatus. The OLF, for an ordinary political observer, may look just another liberation organization, for the Oromo, it represents our indomitable virtues and unyielding spirit to rectify century old degradation by the Abyssinian rulers, and hence we even jokingly say every Oromo is an OLF!
Further more, OLF never gave false claims or hopes to its rank and file. Successive leadership of the organization warned us, due to the level of development of our nation, the struggle will be a long and arduous one; there will be ups and downs, conflicts and betrayals within the organization itself and in the political milieus of the Horn of Africa. It really does not matter how many Abyssinia rulers usurps the state power in the Empire, for us, the focus should be to organize, win the hearts and minds of the Oromo people throughout Oromia and strength the unity of conquered peoples in the Empire. Comparing OLF with TPLF is a bogus proposition! TPLF was the creation of EPLF, it trained, indoctrinated and ushered it to Tigray so that it alone would not bear the brunt of Ethiopian army in Eritrea! One should not look into the growth of TPLF in isolation from that of EPLF’s objectives. At its inception, as well as it matured to level of a credible fighting force, TPLF had the backing of Eritrea rebels. OLF, on other hand, never benefited from any outside assistance, or have had a benefactor to mentor or motivate in the art of guerrilla warfare. Whatever achievement it had, it was home grown and reflected the meager resources and improvised resistance against the powerful Ethiopian state apparatus.
When most Guerrilla movements in the Empire were massacring each other in the name of revolutionary justice, (TPLF is a poster child of these vile and sordid acts) the OLF never engaged in any sort of “self cleansing” to advance any political views or disagreements among its members or leadership. Those who felt that the life of a guerrilla is an intolerable task and could not endure the discipline and the sacrifices were allowed to withdraw from the organization and were bade farewell with out any consequences. The OLF and its history bear no comparison to all the indictments hurled against it by ato Abebe. His gloomy prognostication that “ it will remain an exile secessionist organization forever giving false claims and hopes to its ever fractured membership” is yet a familiar derision and abusive invectives only ato Abebe and his ilk conjure-up to malign OLF about its visions and conviction of liberating the Oromo nation. He is hardly qualified to assess the present status of OLF and its activities. We, in the Oromo resistance look at the Ethiopian history and culture as that of colonizing structure that did hold-down our societies’ potentials and our nation-hood. Unlike Ato Abebe who views the Oromo quest for freedom and dignity as “secessionist”, we spent the bulk of our adolescent and adulthood years in the jungles of Oromia and some of us in exile struggling and hoping one day our people will be free to govern themselves. The struggle continues!
If on the other hand, his characterization of the organization had been true, I have no qualm to add my criticism of the OLF to his, but it is not true and his is just a craven canards!
The entire hullabaloo by ato Abebe about OLF is perhaps a result of social and political alienation of Abyssinia intellectuals from what is transpiring within non-Abyssinian communities. This hatred enhanced intellectual commentary and stance vis-à-vis OLF and other colonized peoples in the Empire is a craven screed and will not elevate the debate or the unity of the Empire. The social forces that kept Ethiopia as an empire crumbled and if we continue to advance and maintain bankrupted views, there will be many mini Ethiopias, not one! A serious debate should have not been marred by virulent distortions and ridicule by ato Abebe and other characters. The inability of these “elites” to understand the rising tide of resistance in the Empire in general and that of Oromo nationalism in particular illustrates the primitive stage of their creativity and an underdeveloped democratic culture. For all their erudition, these “elites” will not save the Empire as it is politically arranged now. They write vacuously with content less platitudes about the glories and indivisibility of the Empire. The shrillness and mordancy of their tone in their commentary is quintessentially feudal Abyssinian intolerance for other people’s choices and views. If ato Abebe’s attempt is to persuade Oromo nation to abandon the struggle for Oromo rights, dignity and identity, and feel more Ethiopian solely on the basis of the present structure and political arrangements, his arguments fails miserably. The travesty of his writing about OLF illustrates the hypocrisy and ultimately the intellectual bankruptcy of his range of vision.
Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) is the link between Oromo masses and defiant resistance against the Meles’ regime. Correctly perceiving this historical role, OLF members continue to risk their lives to organize, mobilize, agitate and educate Oromos everywhere.
Indeed, it is necessary that we make a profound reassessment of both the military and political concepts of the national struggle and the call for unity against the entrenched Wayannee regime undoubtedly constitutes one of the essential processes of this solidarity.
From our perspective, in our struggle, there must emerge a tested and visionary leadership supremely confident of its ability to shape the destiny of the Empire and its people. And from it, too, there must spring a tolerant, creative, modern and democratic Ethiopian state endowed with rich experiences and convinced of the rights of its citizens.
Finally, the Oromo nation’s resistance is a momentous process that cannot be stopped by Meles and his thugs. The quest for freedom and the willingness to pay any price will continue to shape the political environment of the empire, either through ballot or bullet, the self-determination of our people will come. It is an historical inevitability that the struggle of the Oromo and all peoples of the Empire will succeed. The courage, the vigilance and the commitment of our people will determine the distance. For sure, we will go to any length to free our people.
(Dumeessa Q. Diimmaa is an Oromo activist. He could be reached at [email protected])
Ethiopia’s genocidal warlord Meles Zenawi has told reporters at a press conference today that his regime is ready to talk with Ginbot 7.
Responding to a question by EthioChannel newspaper reporter, Meles said that Ginbot 7 and all the other opposition groups, including OLF and ONLF are welcome for dialogue as long as they accept the constitution.
EthioChannel is a supporter of the ruling party, and it is suspected that the question about Ginbot 7 was discussed in advance.
Asked whether his regime jammed the independent Ethiopian Satellite Television (ESAT), Meles said he doesn’t want to give an answer to that.
A group of Ethiopians who took part in the Woyanne fake march in Washington DC last Thursday have expressed deep regret and offered their heartfelt apology to the people of Ethiopia and Ethiopians in the Washington Metro Area after finding out the real objective of the march and who were behind it.
Some of the individuals were brought from Ohio and other states and had been misinformed that the march was organized by a coalition of all Ethiopian civic and political groups in DC. When they arrived at the demonstration site they were shocked to see the ugly Woyanne flag all over the place and Solomon Tekalign singing about Meles Zenawi’s eyebrows. They later found out that the whole thing was financed by Abinet Gebremeskel, Al Amoudi’s assistant, and coordinated by Woyanne cadres and thugs.
One of the individuals who expressed regret is named Fikru (click here to read about him).
Addis Dimts Radio’s Sunday program has a segment on both the Woyanne fake march and the protest rally in front of Chinese embassy that was organized by Ethiopians in the DC area on Thursday. Click below to listen.
[podcast]http://www.addisdimts.com/archive/Mp3/08-07-10.mp3[/podcast]
Disappointed by the low turnout, Negussie Woldemariam of YeHod Fiker Radio on his Sunday program asked the Woyanne regime to confiscate land and houses given to those Ethiopians in the Washington DC area who have failed to attend the rally.
Note: This is the fourth installment in a series of commentaries I intend to offer on U.S. foreign policy (or lack thereof as some would argue) in Ethiopia. In this piece, I argue that the Obama Administration’s recently announced Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative to go after corruption in Africa and elsewhere could prove to be an extraordinarily effective tool to improve human rights on the continent. By focusing on corruption, the Obama Administration could reasonably demand good governance practices of African “leaders” while maintaining cooperation on counter-terrorism and security issues.
The Africa Kleptocracy Project
In June 2008, when presidential candidate Barack Obama was a few months away from electoral victory, I warned those dictators who survive by pickpocketing the American tax payer of the arrival of a “new sheriff” in town and advised them to clean up their acts and “shape up”[1]: “A new sheriff is coming to town. He does not carry a six-shooter but carries a law book. And he’s laying down the law for all the tin-pot dictators of the world.” In April 2009, I “read the tea leaves”[2] again and urged Africa’s panhandling dictators to “ride out before the big roundup” because the “new sheriff and posse are in town.” I am glad to say I read the tea leaves just right.
Barack’s Posse was a little late but finally showed up in Kampala, Uganda last week to lay down the law to Africa’s top kleptocrats (thieves masquerading as “heads of state”) gathered at their annual summit. President Obama’s “undersheriffs”, Attorney General (A.G) Eric Holder and Johnnie Carson, U.S. Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, told the huddled kleptocrats that a special Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative (KARI) has been established in the U.S. Justice Department to recover the money they and their criminal cohorts have stolen from their citizens and restore it to its intended use:
I am pleased to announce that the U.S. Department of Justice is launching a new Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative aimed at combating large-scale foreign official corruption and recovering public funds for their intended – and proper – use: for the people of our nations. We’re assembling a team of prosecutors who will focus exclusively on this work and build upon efforts already underway to deter corruption… I know that prosecution is not the only effective way to curb global corruption. We will continue to work with your governments to strengthen the entire judicial sector… We must also work with business leaders to encourage, ensure and enforce sound corporate governance. We should not, and must not settle for anything less… As many here have learned — often in painful and devastating ways — corruption imperils development, stability, competition and economic investment. It also undermines the promise of democracy… Like President Obama, I believe that the 21st century will be shaped by what happens here in Africa. Your security and prosperity, the health of your people and the strength of your civil society, will have a direct and profound impact on the world’s communities and on the advancement of human rights and human progress everywhere.
A couple of months ago, A.G. Holder addressing the 35-nation Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris said:
Put simply, corruption undermines the promise of democracy. It imperils development, stability and faith in our markets. And it weakens the rule of law. Corruption erodes, even destroys, the faith of citizens in their governments. As I speak, a corrupt official somewhere is enjoying undeserved and illegal proceeds. He may be driving a brand-new luxury car. She may be filling her off-shore bank account with tainted cash. They may be traveling first-class on all-expenses-paid holidays. Bribery in international business, for example, may center on shell companies and wire transfers, but no matter where — or how — it happens, the corrosive result is the same: stymied development, lost confidence and distorted competition. The result is unfairness, not justice; the consequence is economic decay, not development.
African Kleptocrats as Organized Criminals (Mafia)
In my commentary “Africorruption, Inc.”, I argued that the business of African governments is corruption.[3] In other words, the majority of African “leaders” seize political power to operate sophisticated criminal enterprises to loot their national treasuries and resources. President Obama’s approach to dealing with corrupt African governments is consistent with the informed view that corruption is not only the lifeblood of African dictatorships but also the most important single factor that accounts for gross violations of human rights and violent suppression of democratic institutions on the continent. Just like any organized criminal enterprise, be they street-level or Mafia-style gangsters, African kleptocrats have used threats, fear, intimidation and violence to maintain and perpetuate their corrupt financial empires. In that context, A.G. Holder’s announcement was nothing short of breathtaking. It was as though he was addressing the national convention of the “Commissione” of all the Mafia families from New York City, Chicago, Detroit, Miami, Atlantic City, Las Vegas, St. Louis, Los Angeles and Philadelphia. In Kampala, he was talking directly to the African equivalents of the Godfathers of the Bonnano, Columbo, Gambino, Genovese, and Lucchese crime families in one place. It was almost surreal.
Though A.G. Holder told the African kleptocrats that he has a posse of special corruption prosecutors saddled up, he omitted telling them what tools he would be using to bring them to justice. They can rest assured that he will be coming after them armed with the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (commonly referred to as the RICO Act or RICO; 18 U.S.C. § 1961–1968). RICO was originally enacted to prosecute the Mafia and others actively engaged in organized criminal activity. Over the years its use has been expanded to cover corporate and other crimes; and now its application is likely to be expanded even further to go after the corrupt and thieving African dictators who launder hundreds of millions of dollars every year in the U.S. buying businesses and homes and making “investments” in legitimate commercial enterprises. Section 1962 of RICO provides in part:
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person who has received any income derived, directly or indirectly, from a pattern of racketeering activity… to use or invest, directly or indirectly, any part of such income, or the proceeds of such income, in acquisition of any interest in, or the establishment or operation of, any enterprise which is engaged in, or the activities of which affect, interstate or foreign commerce. (b)… through a pattern of racketeering activity… to acquire or maintain, directly or indirectly, any interest in or control of any enterprise which is engaged in, or the activities of which affect, interstate or foreign commerce… (c) It shall be unlawful for any person employed by or associated with any enterprise engaged in, or the activities of which affect, interstate or foreign commerce, to conduct or participate, directly or indirectly, in the conduct of such enterprise’s affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity… (d) It shall be unlawful for any person to conspire to violate any of the provisions of subsection (a), (b), or (c) of this section.
Simply stated, African kleptocrats who rob their nations blind and bring their stolen loot to the U.S. to launder it will be tracked down and forced to disgorge and face jail time as well. What is potentially devastating to African kleptocrats is the fact that a RICO charge could be brought not only against them, but also their associates, business partners, investors, and any others in the U.S. or elsewhere who “directly or indirectly” facilitate their criminal enterprises. The penalties are severe: up to $25,000 and 20 years in prison per racketeering count. The racketeers must give up all of the gains from the criminal activity including the hundreds of millions tucked away in U.S. banks. RICO also allows private individuals damaged by the racketeer to file a civil suit and collect treble (three times) damages if they are successful. Proving a RICO charge in court is considered to be relatively easy as it focuses on “patterns” of behavior as opposed to criminal acts. Since conspiracy is one of the charges that could be brought in a RICO case, the kleptocrats’ underlings, accountants, business associates and partners and collaborators could be prosecuted.
Fixing Human Rights Violations by Prosecuting Kleptocrats
A.G. Holder says the Obama Administration is committed to battling corruption as “one of the great struggles of our time.” Holder’s words, if translated into concrete action could have a huge impact not only on governance in Africa but also in improving human rights protections. Corruption is fundamentally a human rights issue. As Peter Eigen, founder and chairman of Transparency International has argued, “[C]orruption leads to a violation of human rights in at least three respects: corruption perpetuates discrimination, corruption prevents the full realisation of economic, social, and cultural rights, and corruption leads to the infringement of numerous civil and political rights. Beyond that, corruption undermines the very essence of the rule of law and destroys citizens’ trust in political leaders, public officials and political institutions.”
The fascinating thing about the Obama Administration’s approach is its creative use of U.S. criminal statutes to deal with African dictators as organized criminal enterprises. Simply stated, the Administration has decided to deal with African dictators as Mafia bosses! If the U.S. could effectively investigate, vigorously prosecute and aggressively seize the assets of Africa’s kleptocrats, the continent may finally begin to see significant improvements in human rights and governance, a dramatic reduction in corruption and generate significant resources from recovered assets for investment in infrastructure and other social programs for the African population.
As I have previously documented[3], Transparency International [TI] (the global coalition against corruption) in its 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) again bestowed upon Africa the dubious honor of being Kleptocracy Central, the continental home of the world’s most corrupt governments in the world. Leading the parade of kleptocracies are the regimes in Ethiopia, the Sudan, Zimbabwe, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya and the warlords of Somalia. These countries scored an atrocious 3.0 or less on the index. In certain countries, the corruption trend appears to be irreversible. For instance, in 2002, Ethiopia received a dismal score of 3.5 on the corruption index. In 2009, eight years after the ruling regime had established the “Federal Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission” (FEAC) with great fanfare and after periodic reports of “major accomplishments” in combating corruption, Ethiopia’s score dropped to an abysmal 2.7.
Publicly-owned assets are acquired in Ethiopia by regime-supporters or officials through illegal transactions and fraud. Banks loan millions of dollars to front enterprises owned by regime officials or their supporters without sufficient or proper collateral. Businessmen must pay huge bribes or kickbacks to participate in public contracting and procurement. Those involved in the import/export business complain of shakedowns by corrupt customs officials. The judiciary is thoroughly corrupted through political interference and manipulation as evidenced in the various high profile political prosecutions. Ethiopians on holiday visits driving about town complain of shakedowns by police thugs on the streets. Even the U.S. State Department spokesman Ian Kelley stated last year that the U.S. is investigating allegations that “$850 million in food and anti-poverty aid from the U.S. is being distributed on the basis of political favoritism by the current prime minister’s party.”
Over the past three years, high profile corruption cases in Ethiopia have been reported in the media. In one case, it was established that “USD$16 million dollars” worth of gold bars simply walked out of the bank in broad daylight. The official “anti-corruption” agency described the heist as a “huge scandal that took place in the Country’s National Bank and took many Ethiopians by surprise [in which] corruptors dared to steal lots of pure gold bars that belonged to the Ethiopian people replacing them with gilded irons… Some employees of the Bank, business people, managers and other government employees were allegedly involved in this disastrous and disgracing scandal.” In another case involving a telecommunications deal with the Chinese, a high level regime official was secretly tape recorded trying to extort kickbacks for himself and other regime officials. The same “anti-corruption” agency reported that “there was another big corruption case at the Ethiopian Telecommunications Corporation that took many Ethiopians by surprise” which involved the “competitive tendering for the supply of telecommunication equipment.” After an investigation, FEAC “found out that nearly 200 million USD has been lost to corruption through the entire fraudulent and corrupt process.” No high level official in good standing with the regime has ever been investigated or prosecuted for corruption.
The poor and powerless bear the brunt of corruption in Africa. The devastating impact of corruption on the continent’s poor becomes self-evident as political leaders and public officials siphon off resources from critical school, hospital, road and other public works and community projects to line their pockets. As for President Obama, it seems that he has finally found the silver bullet to deal with Africa’s corrupt thugs. In a pun, no more cash and KARI for Africa’s kleptocrats.
To be continued….
FREE BIRTUKAN MIDEKSSA AND ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS IN ETHIOPIA.
Ancient Ethiopian monasteries are falling apart due to lack of funds needed for maintenance, and yet, the Church’s scarce resources are being used to erect bronze statues and display posters of a gun-totting Woyanne cadre who claims to be a pope.