West Should Respect Voice of Ethiopians Demonstrating against Intervention, Says Peace and Conflict Analyst

The West should respect the voice of millions of Ethiopians in the country and abroad demonstrating against all forms of meddling in the internal affairs of the country, Peace and Conflict Analyst Digafe Debalke said.

Speaking with ENA, the analyst who resides in Canada said demonstrations held last week in several cities across the country and in many western cities by the Ethiopian Diaspora have sent a clear message to the West to stay out of the country’s internal affairs.

According to him, Ethiopians have demanded that the West work with Ethiopians, but not tell them what to do and not do.

The size of the demonstrations was overwhelming, the analyst stated, adding that the turnout was extraordinary.

‘‘What we have seen in terms of demonstrations in Ethiopia last week, including in the capital Addis Ababa, is extraordinary. We have never seen such turn out.’’

In doing so, what they have communicated to the international community is that Ethiopians do not want other countries to meddle in their affairs, as they do not meddle in other country’s affairs, he noted.

Ethiopian’s are confident that they can manage their problems and resolve internal differences, through different mechanism and they have communicated this to the international community.

Digafe further noted that Ethiopia, in terms of international relationship and diplomacy, is an old nation. It is not a young and inexperienced nation.

‘‘So, to treat Ethiopia as if it needs somebody to chart its own national course, to tell the country what to do and not to do is perhaps a failure to understand the country’s history, the current political complexity, the political dynamics and ultimately its disrespect to the national pride and identity of the country,’’ the analyst elaborated.

Digafe said that for far too long the West has preached the beauty of democracy and its dividends.

However, what we are witnessing is that as long as authoritarian regimes remain loyal to Western countries, as long as they serve the interests of Western countries, democracy would remain a background, he noted.

Hadn’t that been the case, they know well that Ethiopia had for the first time in its modern political history managed to get a democratically elected government.

‘‘This is the first democratically and dully elected government in Ethiopia. Like any government and political entity it may have its own shortcomings. Nonetheless, it is an elected government.’’ he said.

In this regard, what we have seen from the Western powers is disrespect to people’s voices — the voice of the Ethiopians who chose this government, he pointed out.

When in power for 27 years, the TPLF, instead of building democratic institutions in Ethiopia, freeing political prisoners, allowing political expression and demonstration, exercised authoritarian rule and worked for the interest of the West rather than Ethiopians, the analyst added.

‘‘It is really baffling for most of us who fought for democracy in Ethiopia to see some Western countries, particularly the United States, not standing by the Ethiopian people, not standing by the elected Government of Ethiopia which we have longed for a very long time to see a democratically elected government.’’

The analyst underscored that the people of Ethiopia have an elected government and that should be respected by the Western countries. The West should come to its senses.

Source: Ethiopia News Agency