Economist Intelligence Unit Country Report – Ethiopia
Monthly Review: April 2011
• Opposition parties claimed that more than 200 members were arrested during March to prevent attempts at organising demonstrations against the government.
• There are crucial differences between Ethiopia and the African countries that have overthrown their long-time rulers in 2011; Ethiopia has a much smaller middle-class, inferior levels of education and much lower Internet penetration.
• The government adopted a more aggressive stance against Eritrea in March by calling for the removal of the regime of the president, Isaias Afewerki, although the motives behind the increase in rhetoric are not yet clear.
• The state-owned Development Bank of Ethiopia has started to sell new government bonds, but with an inflation rate of 16.5% in February, the real interest rate on the bonds is negative and demand will probably be low.
• UK state aid for Ethiopia is planned to rise to an annual average of £331m (US$533m) up to 2015, making the country the biggest recipient of British aid.
• Interventionist policies such as the limit on bank lending, currency devaluation and price ceilings have created market distortions, leading to shortages of staple products, and may eventually cause more pain than gain.
Read the full report here.
Global Civic Movement for Change in Ethiopia, a group of pro-Ethiopian activist around the word, has written a letter to Howard University president Sidney A. Ribeau asking him to cancel a meeting that is organized at the university’s campus next weekend by cadres of the brutal dictatorship in Ethiopia. Read below:
President Sidney A. Ribeau
Howard University Office of the Secretary
2400 Sixth Street, NW, Suite 440
Washington, DC 20059
(202) 806-2250
[email protected]
Re: Request of cancellation of the April 9th event organized by the dictatorial regime in Ethiopia.
Dear President Ribeau:
The Ethiopian-American community in the Diaspora and human rights activists, in particular, is stunned that Howard University is willing to give its space to the agents and messengers of the criminal and repressive regime of Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia. Providing a meeting venue to a regime known for egregious human rights violations, extra-judicial killings, torture and the use of rape as a weapon of war to undermine the movement for freedom and democracy is very disheartening. It casts a blemish on the reputation of this great institution of higher learning and an affront to all people, especially those of African descent. It also makes Howard University — a living symbol of the determination of the people of African descent to free themselves of oppression and enjoy the fruits of life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness and prosperity as responsible citizens in a free and egalitarian society —appear to be a tacit supporter of social injustice and gross human rights abuses in Africa.
Under the regime of Meles Zenawi, Ethiopia suffers from the absence of the rule of law, independent judiciary, free press, strong civil society, a strong opposition and a vibrant private sector. The United States Department of State 2010 Country Report on Human Rights and Practices documented that Mr. Meles Zenawi’s government continued to carry out “unlawful killings, torture, beating, abuse and mistreatment of detainees and opposition supporters by security forces, often acting with impunity; poor prison conditions ; arbitrary arrest and detention, particularly of sympathizers of members of opposition groups detention without charge and lengthy pretrial detention; use of excessive force by security services..” International rights groups including Human Rights Watch and Genocide Watch have repeatedly documented and condemned the gross violation of human rights, war crimes and even genocide perpetrated in Gambela and the Ogaden regions by the regime of Meles Zenawi.
These gross human rights violations are an affront to humanity and we believe the American people will not remain silent about these abuses, especially since the Zenawi regime is funded by taxpayer money. In the 2010 parliamentary elections, violation of human rights and the absence of a fair and free election process in Ethiopia allowed the ruling minority clique to claim that it won by 99.6%. In 2005, Mr. Meles Zenawi’s government rigged the relatively free and fair election, imprisoned thousands of innocent Ethiopians and the entire leadership of the major opposition party; and killed more than 200 peaceful protestors.
Despite massive foreign aid estimated at $30 billion since 1991, and $3 billion per year fro the U.S. government alone, the latest Oxford University Multi-Dimensional Index (MDI) showed that Ethiopia is the second poorest country, behind Niger in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ninety (90) percent of the population is poor; there are 5 million orphans; 70 percent of Ethiopian youth is unemployed and an estimated 7 million Ethiopians depend on international emergency food aid to survive.
The national economy is dominated by party owned and endowed enterprises. Endemic corruption is rampant at the highest levels of the regime. Inequality is on the rise. Ethiopian economists estimate that growing inequality is a consequence of economic and other asset concentration into the hands of a few government officials and their cronies at the expense of the majority. Land, the primary source of livelihood for the vast majority of the Ethiopian people, is owned by the state. The ruling party has used its power to illegally lease millions of acres of ancestral farmlands to foreign investors engaged in a neo-colonial land grab. These foreign agri-business companies are investing millions to produce food in Ethiopia to feed their own population and the rest to export to rich countries.
Under Meles Zenawi’s single party rule, Ethiopia continues to be ruled with an iron fist and suffer from incalculable “brain drain” Howard University as the alma mater of pioneer Ethiopians, such as Dr. Melaku Beyan stands to suffer irreparable damage to its reputation by allowing a brutal regime to hold a political meeting in its prestigious ground.
We, a coalition of civic organizations, advocacy and human rights activists, strongly urge you to cancel this embarrassing event that is due to be held at Cramton Auditorium on April 9, 2011. We would be very happy to meet with you and discuss our concerns further, and we can be reached by email: [email protected]
Sincerely,
Neamin Zelleke
Coordinator
Global Civic Movement for Change in Ethiopiaa
CC:
Provost and Chief Academic Officer
James H. Wyche, Ph.D.
[email protected]
202-806-2550
Executive Vice President and
Chief Operating Officer
Troy A. Stovall
[email protected]
202-806-2050
Senior Vice President
Strategic Planning, Operations & External Affairs & Chief Technology Officer
Hassan Minor, Ph.D.
[email protected]
202-806-2530
Senior Vice President and Secretary
Artis Hampshire-Cowan, J.D.
[email protected]
202-806-2250
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer – Treasurer
Robert Tarola
[email protected]
202-806-2411
Vice President for
Development and Alumni Relations
Nesta Bernard
[email protected]
202-238-2340
Keith Miles
Chief of Staff
Email:[email protected]
Office of University Communications
Latta, Judi Moore
Executive Director
Phone: (202) 238-2338
Fax: (202) 986-0409
E-mail: [email protected]
Greg E. Carr
Associate Professor of Africana Studies
Chair of the Department of Afro-American Studies
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 202-806-7581
African Studies Department
Cham, Mbye B.
Chairperson
Professor
[email protected]
David, Wilfred L.
Professor
[email protected]
202.238.2315 426
Edgar, Robert R
Professor
[email protected]
202.238.2356 410
Nyang, Sulayman S
Professor
[email protected]
202.238.2311 430
Serapião, Luis B
Professor
[email protected]
202.238.2318 406
Shams, Feraidoon
Associate Professor
[email protected]
202.238.2324 402
Zewde, Almaz
Assistant Professor
[email protected]
202.238.2321 401
Hailu, Alem
Assistant Professor
[email protected]
202.238.2316
Johnson, Krista
Assistant Professor
[email protected]
202.238.2312 424
Ethiopia’s khat-addicted dictator has offered Egypt a co-ownership of the planned Nile River dam, according to the VOA (read here). Meles Zenawi said: “If there is a reconsideration, there will be time to consider many issues, including possibly joint ownership of the project itself. We are open to such ideas,” said Meles.
Ethiopia has several others rivers that can be used for hydroelectric power. Meles is going after Nile River and picks fight with Sudan and Egypt to divert attention from his domestic crisis, including an impending uprising. What is even more sinister is that he is offering a joint ownership of the dam to Egypt and Sudan, which could threaten Ethiopia’s sovereignty in the long-term.
PRESS RELEASE
Global Civic Movement for Change in Ethiopia
This is a call to all patriotic Ethiopians to say No to the TPLF/EPRDF officials’ visit to North America searching for investment from the Diaspora community. We are not against investing and helping our country and people. On the other hand, we believe we should have a clear understanding of where our money goes and for what purpose it will be used. TPLF/EPRDF officials are asking us to invest under the following circumstances best suited to their perpetuation of their power and not the national interest of Ethiopia.
* Today, all land belongs to the government and we are supposed to lease our own ancestral land. The Ethiopian farmer is at the mercy of TPLF/EPRDF officials in his own land. As a result of these and the overall ill devised policies of the regime, millions of Ethiopians depend on donor food aid; millions of Ethiopians still live in grinding and abject poverty. While the kleptocrats of the ruling regime’s ethnic and political cronies gloat with opulence and decadence.
* Today TPLF/EPRDF officials and EFFORT (Endowment Fund for the Rehabilitation of Tigrai) are the largest owners of the major industries in Ethiopia including Banking, Construction, Agribusiness, Mining, Communication, Insurance and other pillars of the economy that are vital to the well-being and development of the country. Meanwhile, Ethiopian business owners are being pushed out of the market due to a lack of a level playing field. While the regime penalizes these business owners with trumped up charges of tax evasion etc., business owners affiliated with the regime due to their ethnicity or political loyalty are made to thrive and prosper.
* Today TPLF/EPRDF controls the rubber stamping parliament using illegal and bogus elections as we witnessed a few months back “winning” 99.6% of the seats; thus effectively turning Ethiopia into a one-party state. Meles has been in power for 20 years. He has been a cause of death and destruction. He has stolen the election in 2005, and massacred unarmed civilians. He imprisoned close to 50 000 people. At present the brutal regime is imprisoning our people in Gambela, Oromo, Ogaden, Southern Ethiopia and elsewhere.
* Today TPLF/EPRDF controls the military, security service, and the police leaving our people at the mercy of a few sick and selfish individuals. The North Africa and Middle East democratic revolutions are forcing the regime to panic. In desperation it is looking for Diaspora money.
* Today TPLF/EPRDF is selling our land to foreign investors at the expense of Ethiopian farmers and the fragile ecology of these places. Thus transferring this problem for generations to come. Our most fertile land and forest resources are being cleared to feed foreigners without regard to the grave consequences to the people of Ethiopia.
* Today we are made to be by-standers and strangers in our own land with the ruling regime working day and night to create animosity, division, confusion and hatred among Ethiopians based on ethnic background and religious affiliation.
Dear fellow Ethiopians, what we are being asked is to go against our own interest. They want us to invest our hard earned money so that TPLF/EPRDF officials and their families can reinvest it outside of our country by buying properties in Europe and America and on shopping sprees. As you are all aware, we work hard for our money. We left our homeland without anything and through hard work and perseverance we have managed to build a decent living wherever we reside.
TPLF/EPRDF and their cohorts have used and abused our people for the last twenty years. They have committed untold crimes against the people of Ethiopia. Now they want us to be part of their criminal empire. We ask you to look at this situation soberly and choose the welfare of your Motherland and your people over empty promises and shameful acts.
Washington DC, New York, NY, Dallas, TX, Seattle, WA, Las Vegas, NV, Atlanta, GA, San Josea , CA , Los Angeles, CA , Ottawa, Canada, Toronto, Canada, Denver, CO, Minneapolis, MN organizing groups and Taskforces.
It time to say no! Enough is enough! Beka! Geye! Yaekel! Aloni! Wetandem! Gides! Bass! Diiteh!
Freedom, justice, equality for the People of Ethiopia! Victory to the people of Ethiopia!
For more information contact: [email protected]
(VOA) — Syria’s state media say the government of Prime Minister Mohammed Naji al-Otari has resigned and the country’s president has accepted the resignations.
The reports say President Bashar al-Assad accepted the Cabinet resignations on Tuesday, following more than a week of anti-government protests.
The Associated Press says the 32-member Cabinet will continue running the country’s affairs until President Assad forms a new government.
News reports say President Assad could announce an end to Syria’s nearly 50-year-old emergency laws when he addresses the nation in the coming days.
The opposition protests represent the most serious threat to President Assad’s 11-year-rule and the long-standing authority of his family.
Syrian security officials have cracked down on the demonstrations, firing tear gas and live ammunition to disperse protesters. The U.S.-based rights group Human Rights Watch says at least 61 people have been killed since the unrest began.
Syrian officials say at least 12 people were killed in unrest in the port of Latakia on Friday and Saturday. Witnesses and human rights groups say security forces fired on protesters. Authorities blame armed extremists and foreign powers for inciting the violence.
The southern city of Daraa has been the focal point of the demonstrations.
(Washington Post) — The cabinet resignation, reported on state TV, marks the latest concession by Assad since protesters forced a string of political promises from his government, including a pledge to lift a 48-year-old emergency law. On Saturday, Assad released hundreds of political prisoners and pulled back security forces from the southwestern city where Syria’s burgeoning unrest began earlier this month.
Along with those concessions, anti-government activists are calling on Assad to rescind limits on civil rights, including the right to free assembly.
Opposition members say talk is no longer enough to appease the protesters.
“The issue is not what Assad will say, it is what will he apply?” said Ammar Qurabi, who head Syria’s National Organization for Human Rights. “We are tired of all this talk that the Syrian people have heard from the government for 11 years.”
