Desta Hailu
Due
to our country’s diplomatic principle, its acceptance around the world is gaining
strength. Ethiopia is attracting the attention of other countries be it in our
sub-region, at continental or international level. For this, we can mention
FDRE Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn’s visit to many countries which
included China and the UK where he signed many agreements, and the fact that
leaders of countries like Qatar, UK, Somalia, Poland, and Singapore made an
official visit to Ethiopia.
This
growing acceptance of our country didn’t simple came out of the blue, but
rather from the impressive internal works Ethiopia is and has been undertaking.
Thus, it should not be forgotten that the basis of our acceptance has to do
with the works the country puts in for its peace, development and democracy.
Ethiopia
has worked hard for peace for the past 26 years out of its strong stance for
it. As a result to this effort, Ethiopia now sits as first from Africa and
fourth in the world when it comes to dispatching peacekeeping troops as the
country has dispatched more than 10 thousand of its troops to various missions.
This shows how much the government puts in huge effort for the peace and
stability of neighboring countries or at continental and international level as
it would in its own country. The country and government also gets lauded for
the pro-people attitude and discipline our peacekeeping troops display at the
missions they are dispatched to. Here I would like to raise two instances to further
illustrate this point in this article - Somalia and the contentious region
Abeyei.
As it’s known, the terrorist group
‘Al-Ittahad Al-Islamiya’; which organized itself to carryout attack on our
country for two decades by sheltering in the then stateless Somalia, was
preparing to carry out terror attack by infiltrating into our country from
Somalia. As it can be recalled, it used the eastern part of our country as
getaway to undertake its malicious acts. However, such antics were not
acceptable to the locales as it meant taking away the rights and benefits they were
getting from the constitution. And as
they believe that our troops are forces of peace, they have given their
committed support to our troops when they fought to stop the terrorist group.
In addition to facing ‘Al-Ittihad’ head on, the local people have played huge
role in this fight by giving information to our troops. When the terror group
was hit in this manner with the support of the local people, the
sheikh Dawir Aweyes led Islamic fundamentalist group by the name of ‘Union of
Islamic Courts (UIC)’ clearly declared Jihad on our country at the behest
(backing) of the Eritrean government. Our government responded by reaching out
for peaceful solution which didn’t get similar response from the other side.
Although
there was no elected government in Somalia at that time, the government still didn’t
want to violate the border out of respect for the people of Somalia. Thus, the
government used various channels to change the mind of the group – with no
avail. Thus, after exhausting every avenue for peace and
after the government’s long running patience run out, it had neutralized the
clear and present danger that was posed on our country after the parliament
ratified the mission. The fact that this mission was undertaken with our troops
displaying pro-people attitude and discipline has garnered the respect of the
Somali people.
When
the ‘Union of Islamic Court’ was defeated by our brave soldiers along with the
collaboration of the Somali people, its remnants established an extremist group
called ‘Al-Shabaab’. Then, the group declared that it is an east Africa faction
of Al-Qaeda and started to gather international jihadists. It then declared
Jihad on our country. However, our defense forces still went to that country in
order to rollback the threat that was posed on us. Our troops returned back to
their home after diminishing Al-Shabaab into a meaningless level. The usual
support came from the Somali people when our troops did that. As the
transitional government was not strong at the time, our troops paid huge
sacrifices to establish a new government in that country after many years
without one.
Nevertheless,
as Al-Shabaab continued to be a threat to the region, our troops had to join
the internationally sanctioned peacekeeping mission AMISOM after a request for
their involvement was sent to our defense force. Through AMISOM, our troops
have helped lay the basis in the effort that led for Somalia to establish a
publically elected government and elect its President peacefully. Thus, it will
not be a lie to say that the peace of Somalia is an outcome of Ethiopia’s
government peace-loving attitude and the discipline and pro-people attitude of
our troops. Coming to the Abeyei region, as its known, the Ethiopian troops
were chosen by the UN to enter into the contentious region of Abeyei solely.
Both Sudan and South Sudan put their trust only on the Ethiopian defense force
to look after the peace of the region.
This
was an unprecedented decision made by the United Nations. It is also unusual
for the UN or two contending or warring sides to choose unanimously the troops
of one country to be dispatched as peacekeeping forces. This demand for our
peacekeeping force comes from our troops pro-people attitude, neutrality and
how disciplined they are in carrying out their missions. Our forces are
carrying out their mission today in Abeyei with amazing discipline and bravery.
Thus, these and other exemplary diplomatic successes should continue
strongly.
The
other issue we find in this regard is the rise of our country’s role in
negotiations. This diplomatic success existed during the reign of emperor
Haileselassie, but it further elevated on an institutional and systematic
manner under the FDRE government. It was during this administration that
Ethiopia became the voice of Africa in the global issue of climate change. It
was also under this government that Ethiopia showed the way by initiating its
own green economy initiative. All this has helped in bourgeoning the country’s
acceptance at international level.
In
my belief, the contributions the FDRE government made during the times of OAU
and now under AU are the basis for the diplomatic success it has gotten now. It
was during the time of AU that the IGAD /Inter-Governmental Authority on
Development/ and Ethiopia started to work to bring peace to the region. And on
the 1992 Nairobi Summit, where IGAD worked to broker a peace deal, the
Ethiopian government played a successful role. This effort and success of our
country has attracted the accolade of the international community. Indeed! The
Ethiopian government contribution to the peace agreement that was struck by the
Sudanese government and South Sudan Rebels was immense. This is because; the
fact that both parties reached a peace agreement indicated the shape of things
to come.
Also
as it can be recalled, the Ethiopian government has also played a major role in
the success of the 1998 peace summit that was held in Addis Ababa. Thus, as the
team effort made by IGAD /Inter-Governmental Authority on Development/ and the
Ethiopian government was accepted by both parties, the 2005 CPA (Comprehensive
Peace Agreement) agreement was signed. However, despite this success the
country was sucked onto another crisis. The Darfur crisis, an ethnic conflict
involving various actors, followed shortly. Of course efforts were under way to
resolve the crisis peacefully. The one made by the likes of Chad and by African
Union (AU) can be pointed out here.
Although
there have been an effort to bring together the Sudanese government and the two
militants in Addis Ababa, it was not successful. As Ethiopia’s desire to create
good relation with its neighbors emanates from its foreign affairs and national
security policy, it has helped change the relation that used to be seen between
the two. The relation with Sudan especially was elevated to a better level.
Truth
be told, the effort to bring peace to Sudan emanates from the positive role our
neighbors peace has on our development, peace and democratic order building.
The only way our effort to beat poverty and backwardness can be successful is
if our neighbors are at peace. Obviously even the peace of countries that are
situated far away from us has huge role on the peace of our own let alone our
bordering countries. And this will inevitably led countries to work hand in
hand at continental level and strengthen the renaissance of Africa. All in all,
they have stated their appreciation for the Ethiopian government which played
the major role in stopping the brutal conflict that erupted between South Sudan
rebels and Sudan. And this is a huge diplomatic success our country has gained.
The
relation South Sudan strikes with Ethiopia since its independence is based on
mutual benefit. It revolves around trade, infrastructure, and investment and
security issues. Currently, the good relation our country has with the newest
country is expected to boost its effort to economically integrate the region.
And this is also one of our diplomatic successes. In general, the reason that
is making our country in need and accepted at the continental and international
level emanates from the diplomatic success it is gaining. Thus, these
diplomatic successes should be maintained.
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