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In First US Visit, Ethiopian Prime Minister Seeks Bridges to Diaspora

by Salem Solomon

   WASHINGTON --

   Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed will make his first trip to the
   United States on Thursday when he visits the diaspora community in
   Washington.

   The visit comes at a high point in Ahmed's brief but eventful tenure as
   Ethiopia's head of government.

   Earlier this year, Ethiopia faced widespread unrest and violent
   protests against a government that appeared unresponsive and
   entrenched.

   In less than four months in office, Ahmed has led a dramatic
   turnaround. Sweeping reforms have quelled dissent, boosted civil
   liberties and begun to heal wounds from decades of ethnic tension and
   marginalization.

   Ahmed was elected by the ruling coalition's executive council after his
   predecessor, Hailemariam Desalegn, abruptly resigned. Since assuming
   office, Ahmed has focused on improving human rights, reducing
   corruption, and introducing economic and political reforms that can
   potentially move Ethiopia toward a more democratic society.

   Now, Ahmed is connecting with Ethiopians in the U.S. to promote his
   reforms and encourage diasporans to return home and add to the changes
   unfolding.

   ''Brain drain'

   For a country that's seen some of its most talented doctors, academics
   and engineers leave for better opportunities in Europe and the U.S., a
   return of diasporans could affect whether Ethiopia's reforms stick.

   NuNu Wako is a media spokesperson for the prime minister's visit to
   Washington, organized by the Ethiopian Embassy.

   She told VOA that Ahmed's trip is designed to "bridge the gap" between
   the Ethiopian government and American diaspora communities in ways not
   seen in the past 27 years, since Ethiopia's current government toppled
   the communist regime that preceded it.

   In Washington, Ahmed plans to meet with representatives from academia,
   banking, medicine and other industries with prominent Ethiopians. He
   hopes some will return home.

   "It's really important that these powerful brains are returned to
   Ethiopia and assist in the sustainable development of Ethiopia," Wako
   said.

   'Reformist leader

   In his first 100 days in office, Ahmed has introduced symbolic and
   substantive changes designed to reshape Ethiopia and the broader
   region.

   He has closed prisons, released hundreds of political prisoners and
   admitted that the government has tortured its citizens.

   He has also unblocked opposition media that was previously banned and
   taken steps to privatize key industries.

   In June, Ahmed said Ethiopia would honor the terms of an international
   ruling and cede land back to its neighbor Eritrea, leading to a
   historic peace deal weeks later and the end of nearly two decades of
   cold war between the countries.

   Ahmed's push to open up Ethiopia's political system reached a "critical
   turning point" earlier this week, Wako said, when he called for
   multiparty democracy.

   Ethiopia's politics are based on ethnic federalism. Its regions and
   accompanying political parties are largely defined along ethnic lines.
   Five parties make up the country's ruling coalition, the Ethiopian
   People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, and they have a virtual
   monopoly on political power.

   But Ethiopia has more than 80 ethnic groups, and the current system has
   led to the consolidation of power into the hands of a few.

   Stepping away from ethnic federalism could lead to more inclusive
   politics that benefit all of society, Wako said.

   "I think that this is going to be a tangible, concrete step forward for
   Ethiopia that, peacefully, will bring everyone together and lead to the
   Ethiopia that we once knew about and our forefathers fought for."

   'Unresolved challenges

   Not everyone is enthusiastic about Ahmed's overseas trip.

   Mesfin Woldemariam is a retired professor and the founder of the
   Ethiopian Human Rights Council. He told Ethiopian broadcaster LTV that
   Ahmed should address pressing domestic concerns before looking outward.

   "While there is fire burning within the country from four different
   directions, the prime minister is going to a different country. I don't
   know what he is going to find or what he is looking for there,"
   Woldemariam said.

   Engaging with the diaspora may not bring the benefits Ahmed hopes to
   reap, he added, until the country becomes more stable over time.

   "The diaspora can come back with their own will, and we shouldn't
   placate them -- especially when things haven't firmed up within
   Ethiopia yet," Woldemariam said.

   Among the problems Ahmed faces at home is the displacement of nearly 1
   million people in the [1]southern Gedeo and West Guji zones because of
   ethnic violence.

   The humanitarian crisis has escalated since Ahmed took office in April,
   and hundreds of thousands of people are in need of emergency aid.

   Multicity visit

   In the U.S., Ethiopians are the second-largest group of African
   immigrants, trailing only Nigerians.

   In 2014, a quarter-million first- and second-generation Ethiopians
   lived in America, according to [2]a report compiled by the Migration
   Policy Institute. Most Ethiopian immigrants arrived in the U.S. in the
   past two decades.

   After meeting with prominent businesses, religious leaders and
   political groups in Washington, Ahmed will visit diaspora communities
   in Minneapolis and Los Angeles.

   Salem Solomon is a multimedia digital journalist with the Voice of
   America's Africa Division. She covers [3]the latest news from across
   the continent, and she also reports and edits in [4]Amharic and
   [5]Tigrigna.

   Salem's multimedia and data-driven projects include [6]Unrest: Ethiopia
   at a Crossroads, [7]Zimbabwe in Transition, [8]Hunger Across Africa and
   [9]How Long Have Africa's Presidents Held Office?

   Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post,
   Poynter.org and Reuters. She researches trends in analytics and digital
   journalism. For tips and inquiries, email: salemsolomon@voanews.com.

References

   1. https://www.voanews.com/a/nearly-one-million-ethiopians-displaced-by-conflict-since-april/4491060.html
   2. https://www.migrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/publications/RAD-Ethiopia.pdf
   3. http://www.voanews.com/author/25229.html
   4. http://amharic.voanews.com/author/25085.html
   5. http://tigrigna.voanews.com/author/25525.html
   6. https://projects.voanews.com/ethiopia-unrest/
   7. https://projects.voanews.com/zimbabwe-in-transition/
   8. http://projects.voanews.com/africa-drought/home.php
   9. http://projects.voanews.com/african-presidents/