Obama’s Nomination Victory as seen from Ethiopia
June 5th, 2008 | EthioPolitics.com |
(Picture - Senator Barack Obama in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
August 30, 2006 visiting people displaced by floods)
Until he started making news as a possible contender for the US presidency, Barack Obama, who this week won the Democratic ticket in the White House race, was not very well known in Ethiopia.
Now, he has a huge fan club in the country, with one of his greatest fans being Ms Birtukan Mideksa, former deputy chair of Ethiopia’s opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) party. Mideksa, who was jailed by the government of Meles Zenawi for two years for “treason and inciting genocide” said that George W. Bush’s administration backed the Zenawi government despite its “betrayal of Ethiopia’s democratisation effort in 2005”.
Mideksa is inspired by Obama’s promise of change and hopes that, if Obama becomes president, the US will be more willing to nudge Mr Zenawi in a more liberal political direction.
“Senator Obama is an agent of change. I am sure he would restore basic civil rights, which many are being denied in the name of war on terror all over the world,” she said. “I am highly impressed by his determination, courage and wisdom. He is my role model and I have fallen in love with his philosophy of change.”
She said she hoped African leaders would learn from Obama how to win the hearts of their people and also respect their rivals instead of fomenting hatred and confrontation.
Meanwhile, Abreham Kumela, a young NGO worker, has been nicknamed “Obama” because of his strong support for the Illinois senator.
“He is not a politician; he advocates tolerance. He teaches us all how to effect change,” Kumela said, explaining his admiration for Obama.
He pointed out that, although Ethiopians at home will not vote in the American elections, he is campaigning among the thousands of Ethiopians in the US, who are also raising funds for Obama, to vote for Obama.
“Obama is bigger than just an politician with African roots; he is a symbol of tolerance and multiculturalism,” Kumela said.
Equally hopeful, but on for different reasons, was Dr Costentinos Berhe, former UN adviser to Nigeria. He believes that, if elected president, Obama might just solve the complex situation in the Horn of Africa.
“The war on terror should not just be a military project,” said Berhe. “It should also address the cultural, social and political changes in this part of the world. “I hope that, because of his African heritage, Senator Obama realises that this change is necessary.”
Human rights
When Obama spent a day in Ethiopia during his African tour in 2006, many Ethiopians realised that he did not support the actions of the current Ethiopian regime. His support for the Bill accusing Ethiopia of having a poor human rights record and proposing serious sanctions, including aid cuts, helped strengthen that view.
Indeed, Dr Tewodros Kiros, an Ethiopian lecturer at Harvard University, US, argues that Obama’s victory might be disastrous for régimes like Ethiopia’s, which do not respect human rights.
nationmedia.com
36 Responses to “Obama’s Nomination Victory as seen from Ethiopia”
By Misrak on Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
come back and visit us again mr obama good luck
By mamush on Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
I do not think we will see a change if obamas foreign policy which seems to be the same as old bush’s especially like on mideast.
As we have seen in his recent speech in aipac meeting.
I begin to feel wrong supporting obama for the past several months.
May be better if we give him a little time.
By mamush on Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
Our hope to birtukan mideksa also faded away as she deliberately destructuring her own institution.
By Setitu on Jun 5, 2008 | Reply
I don’t know why people, specially Ethiopians in the US, are going heads over heels for this guy. He is just another politician. And that fact was testified to yesterday, when he made that speech at AIPAC. Now that he has won the democratic primary, it is time to move to the center, or who cares, even to the right. With statements like “[Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and should be…]”, he is way on the right with the Conservatives. Some may argue that he is just playing politics to get elected - to get the AIPAC support him. Really? Isn’t there another election in four years? And is the AIPAC just gonna disappear from the face of the world by that time? Besides, I thought Obama was the kinda guy that doesn’t say or do anything to win? Here is what is going to happen: he will say and do things to get elected, and get elected again; just like other politicians, he will shake dirty hands to get things done; he will exchange Ethiopian democracy for some other bill he wants passed. Besides, I do not think he is as naive as his supporters to think that he can bring about a meaningful change in how politics is done in “Washington” in four or eight years. If he tries, he is in for a disaster. Check out history.
As for articles like the one above, if he loses, thats probably gonna be one of the reasons. Americans don’t like it when foreigners admire their leaders to be that much. They already don’t feel safe about this ‘rest of the world’ thingy being around and existing alongside with them. They’r kinda paranoid. Thus, they tend to resist what the rest of the world chooses for them…specially in a time after 9/11. When news articles started flashing around surveys done in Europe and Canada in the 2004 elections to show how much greater support Kerry had, I didn’t think it was good for him, and it wasn’t.
So, those of you foreigners who want Obama to get elected, #1. Stop rubbing your opinions of Obama on Americans’ noses (people who like their independence tend to resist pressure); #2. Prepare yourselves for a huge dose of disappointment whether he wins or loses, because in both cases, you could lose. (If he wins the election, you could still lose him to politics).
By dm on Jun 6, 2008 | Reply
congra obama,don’t forget the black people because they are the diamond of others.
By liyu on Jun 6, 2008 | Reply
Setitu
an american taking the time to read ethiopian websites is already voting for obama. the kind that dont like this kind of article dont even read cnn let alone ethiopian articles on obama
By ETHIO ROCK on Jun 6, 2008 | Reply
our obama is lovely birtukan .we don’t look good b forgeting our heros
By Tariku on Jun 6, 2008 | Reply
Where is the Change,Obama?
You speak change,change among 75K would be voters ,you are now saying same old stuff after you secured nomination.
Shame on you barack Obama.
obama is now a shock for everyone when he made that speech at AIPAC declaring the same old rhetoric and dangerous policy like strong ties with israel and “[Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and should be…]”…it angered many especially palestinians.
I begin to feel like obama becoming ‘tensheratach’ like owr own lidetu,berhanu nega,birtukane and alike.
Anyway,Let us wait to get a little more of him.
By Medeksaa on Jun 6, 2008 | Reply
There is big ideoligical gap between prodemocratic Obama, undemocratic Ms.Bertukan medeksa.
Bertukan medeksa does not work for Ethiopias majority (oromos) but for Amara (minority).
Ms. Bertukan Medaksa does not support democratization nor majoritisization of Ethiopia national language from minority Amharas language (Amharic) to Ethiopias Majority (Afaan oromoffiaa).
If there ought to be Democracy and meaningful democratic reform in Ethiopia, ethiopias national language should be changed from minority amharas language (Amharic) to erthiopias majority (Afaan oromoffiaa).
Beside, How could a nation claim to be democratic while supressing the culture and language of its majority population ? ?
By Destachew on Jun 6, 2008 | Reply
If you ask me,-
If would Obama`s greatest leggacy be at end of his first term or second term in the oval office, of course that is if he gets elected and become the presidence ?
The answer result is abstractingly indirect to American black citizens than to white Americans. To black Americans Obama presidence may mean a symbol of integration to the main coridor of the power house,which historically restircted to white male domination, and also sychologically perceptions and morally positive to millions of destituted African americans. while in the mean time Obama presidence may boost americas foreign image around the world and give and creat brandishing americanism once again to the world, by enforcing Americanism is beyound nationalism-much more like Americanism as a concept than simplistic form of nationalistic drama. Of course as usual, from obama presidence the more direct profitters will be the usual top economic ladder citizens, while middle class some what protected through his policy.
And no doubt, Obamas presidence may open so many eyes within African Americans, while legitimizing and enforing african americans socio political positions within the country, of course such psychronization may not be directelly applied through policy, but through psychological formation of sociopolitical cultural image that imposed throughout the life of the presidence and its historical chronologicals.
By JzB on Jun 6, 2008 | Reply
The power of the nation can not measure up or rest on millitary power only, but by the living stadard of its its citizens.
Unless America wise up and concentrate on business and less in war diplomacy, America will surrender its economic power.
Of course America will have guns and nuclear power, but all these millitary toys and strategic millitary power is useless when the Americans house hold income nation wide declining in unprecedented alraming rate, and when America lossing and surrendering its core manufacturing sector to other emerging economic countries.
By Gooch on Jun 7, 2008 | Reply
U.S. foreign policy barely changes from one President to another. Obama or McCain may make some changes on the margin, but on the whole, all they’ll do is move back more or less to the way things were done during the Clinton and Papa Bush era.
Don’t expect any impact on Ethiopia. Any change in Ethiopia will be effected by Ethiopians in Ethiopia and in the diaspora.
By Destachew on Jun 7, 2008 | Reply
I DONOT WANT TO SOUND ALARMIST,BUT WHO EVER GETS THE PRESIDENCE MAY HAVE TO FACE THE GLOOMY ECONOMIC COMPLICATION THE PRESENT AMERICA IS FACING.
As history goes that America took over the imperial from British after the second world war,by using the war as path to uplift and positioning America to influence as glowing shining world leader. Now it seems that glory more than ever been shaken by the new socioeconomic world order, in lack of job growth and other direct and indirect factors contributing to the weakening declining of the Middle Class, which in most cases such decline of middle class is indication of free fall of economic conditions, while overwhole unemployement numbers indicating nation wide growing to the record since early 1980`s. Americas GDP growth also flactuating in negative territory since 2001, so far for the entire decade Americas GDP registered less than all major industrial countries,included China,south korea,Japan,Canada,Russia,france,UK and Germany.
What is funny is, The American founding fathers took them more than a centure to build the middle class, but this the same middle class been evaporating the last 12 years in alarming rate. Presentely the official unemployement reading nation wide is 5.5, but the truth figure may be double of the official report. The American currence/Dollar also lossing its attraction world wide,its value and its uncertainity creating unstable demand for it, some countries now officially abandoning American dollar to other currence alternatives, and this devalued inflated american dollar also creating serious of fear among countries stock pilled american dollars as international security, since the american dollar value declining followed by weakning economy and americas influence and position in the world market. In the result the American major financial institutions and banks also lossing once respected conservative position, and their security in the stock market devalued more than 62% of their share value from two years ago. this banks also suffering from mortgage crisis and mass job loss nation wide, in unprecedented number of Americans surrendering and foreclosuring their houses and giving it back to the mortgage holder banks, while themortgage holder banks also directelly and indirectelly forced to sell those foreclosure houses for between 17% to 27% less than the market value. Some of these major banks already stop paying quarterly devidend to their investors and stock share holders, rather they are struggling to cover their losses and struggling to stay in business. To make the situation worse, many international investors and domestic investors were growing in fear and runing away from the stock market it self, by recalling and comparing the present uncertainity with the historical of 1929 depression era/stock market crash.
By JzB on Jun 7, 2008 | Reply
Gooch,
You are right, Historically speaking, American foreign policy may not change from one president to another. But this time the situation is not in Americas control any longer. It seems america is lossing its touch and influence in the world, while the world dealing business with less politically demanding complicating countries, such as china and other emerging world economic power countries.
As in the past the world need not to obey to american way of things any longer, since the alternatives is diverse and much accessable. In the other hand,if America want to preserve its former position and influence in the world, america should change its dealing with the world.
By Winsorite on Jun 7, 2008 | Reply
Just like Abrham Lincoln abolished slavery at least in declaration, Will Obama also abolish subtle racism and dismantle modern day concentration camp that is hoodwinkly institutionalized in the name of “public housing” throughout united states. because those were the negative environment conditioning holding the black race bondage and hostage within their own country, keep them from integrating to the main stream of the society as steak holders.
*Will Obama free 43% of American citizens (Blacks Americans and Latino Americans) from second class citizenary ?
*Will Obama end race definable economic class in America ?
By MesqelKebra on Jun 7, 2008 | Reply
Yes, I agree. Obama is a politician after all. Yes, his message of change and hope and the way he speaks is better than Bush or Hilary or McCain (I would have voted for him since he is the best candidate)), but he’s still a politician.
When I heard what he said to the Pro-Israel lobby, “Israel must remain a Jewish state, and Jerusalem must remain the undivided capital,” I almost felt sick. Terrible! The same old stuff….
Let’s hope that, when he’s president, at least a bit of the foreign policy of the US will change and at least, they will not keep Meles in power any longer.
I was also supporting him much, but since I heard what he said about the status of Jerusalem… The Palestinians also have rights!!
Anyways…
Let us be patient and pray.
By Demeke Mebratu on Jun 7, 2008 | Reply
Meskelkbra,
The issue of Isreal should be solved by isreal citizens Jews and Palestenians only. And all the arabs radicals terrorists who were politically prostituting in the name of palestian concern should rather work to improve their hopless oil dependant politically backward country by democratizing and by creating meaningful democratic government. The existence Isreal is not a gift come from some uncivilized camel dragging arabs, but its is Isreally absolute devine right to exist. And Isreally as any nation have absolute right by any means necessary to defend themselves from terrorist radicals.
By Damera on Jun 7, 2008 | Reply
Mesquelkebra,
You are right, Obama will not side with terrorists, but with peace loving democratic Isreal.
By Girma Desalegn on Jun 8, 2008 | Reply
Obo Midexa
Ati hare da goftako
By Aba Mela on Jun 9, 2008 | Reply
WHY WE ARE ALWAYS EXPECTING A CHANGE FROM AMERICA AS I UNDERSTAND WE NEVER BEEN COLONIZED. OUR PROBLEM IS WE ARE NOT STANDING FOR OUR COMMON INTEREST IT WILL BE THE SAME SHIT. LOOK LIKE BERTUKAN, SHE IS TRYING TO CREATE A NEW PARTY BUT FROM THE BEGINNING THEY ARE
IN THE CONFLICT WITH OTHERS TO BE CHAIRMAN OF THE PARTY. PLEASE,PLEASE, WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO BE LIKE OBAMA.
By daking on Jun 9, 2008 | Reply
It seems the world is finished
By Aba Mela on Jun 9, 2008 | Reply
if meles can get a chance to meet obama for half an hour, obama will visit Ethiopia twice a year.
By Mama Ethiopia on Jun 10, 2008 | Reply
Obama stand is clear for every body.I belive he will bring change.He is still nominated by American people .He is doesnt tell his people a blantatlie like meles .He was tursted by American people.We can not compare Ethiopa and American Democracy.clearly speaking meles has blood on his hand .even he doesnt know the term democracy .woyane using the name Aba Mela to hide him self and said meles can get a chance to meet obama for half an hour, obama will visit Ethiopia twice a year .which is not true .He will be sad the whole his life if he se what is going in Ethiopia.He still knows what is going on in Ethiopia .Even the whole world knew meles is a dictator.His power is gained by power.any way we ethiopian will get our freedom and political rights by struggleing the existing an elicated grupp”that is not state”.
We will get victory soon..
By Aba Mela on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply
MAMA ETHIOPIA,
DID YOU HAVE ANY STRONG AND DETERMINED OPPOSITION
PARTY? WE SAW YOUR KINEJIT DIVIDED LIKE A PEASE OF
SHIT. THERE IS NO DENY MELES CAN TALK THEIR LANGUAGE AND I AM SURE HE CAN EASILY CON VISED THEM THAT IS TRUE. AND WHY YOU SAID WOYANE DO I HAVE THE RIGHT TO APPRECIATE MELES? LET ME TELL YOU I HAVE ALSO A PROBLEM WITH MELES OF HIS POLICY
PLESAE M/ETHIOPIA LET AS THINK THE POSITIVE ONE
AND SEE OUR BELOVED COUNTRY TO BE THE BEST AND
THE BEST AFRICA.
HOPE I WILL SEE YOU SOON.
ABA MELA.
By Mama Ethiopia on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply
Abamela I read through what you said.”see our beloved coutry to be the best and the best Africa” that is my wish .How ? by killing people ? to stay in power 17 yars and to opress his people who payed tax for his education. wich is impossible. let me tell you I like the multi cultral Ethiopian society .Why you said WE SAW YOUR KINEJIT DIVIDED LIKE A PEASE OF
SHIT. you see how you belive .with out knowing me you judge me like kangaro court.you dont know me.that is our diffrence.Let me tell you I am not the memeber of any party.but as an ethiopian i know that is not fare to kill our fathers ,brothers and sisters on the street so also to give our land to sudan and to put our people in prision in sudan.let me tell you woyane dont represent the ethiopian people even the place he was born.they suffered like other Ethiopians.
the majority will win soon!
By daniel negash on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply
GET ASHAMED BIRTUKAN! NASTY POLITICIAN; THUS SHE GONNA BE COLONIZED HERSELF AND HER COUNTRY.
EDIOT… (LEWT KERAS YIJEMRAL) DONT EXPECT AMERICA TO BE CHANGED.
By aba mela on Jun 12, 2008 | Reply
DEAR MAMA ETHIOPIA,
I apologies for saying your kinijit. but i want you to tell something i never been out of ethiopia
for different reasons I remember the time of mengistu, me and all my friends were suffering a
lot I even lost my best friend with the red terror
OK, now I can walk in ADDIS ABABA street with out any
fear and I can travel anywhere in Ethiopia with
out any problem. if god says we might meet one
day and I will explain to you the all things
about the election scandal of 2005.
ABA MELA
By MesqelKebra on Jun 12, 2008 | Reply
Hey Demeke Mebratu!
I agree: of course, the issue of Israel should be solved by Israelis and Palestinians only. The U.S. and all the Arab countries should leave them alone!! The Israelis and the Palestinians should come together and negotiate.
Of course the State of Israel has the right to exist. What I was trying to say is that the Palestinians also have a right, not only the Israelis.
Anyways … God willing, I will see Jerusalem one day.
Aba Mela, that’s what I’m saying. I don’t expect a change from the U.S. but let’s hope it. I mean, let us hope that at least their foreign policy will change a bit, at least towards Meles, and, my (I know unrealistic) hope is always, that they will stop subsidising their cotton farmers and open their market for Ethiopian products, so that Ethiopia can prosper.
Anyways…
Let us pray and be patient.
May He help us all!
By kebede on Jun 13, 2008 | Reply
Aye weyanewoch kahunu ferut medere kemalam hula Obama is world hero but meles is etiopian kemalam.
Obama will not support dictator like meles,mugabe and the like degenetu obaman yemimertew americawi enji kemalam ethiopiawei aydelem sorry guys ~
KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
By Mama Ethiopia on Jun 13, 2008 | Reply
Kebede what do you mean when you said obaman yemimertew americawi enji kemalam ethiopiawei aydelem sorry guys ~??? Can you make it clear!!
By Mama Ethiopia on Jun 13, 2008 | Reply
Let me ask you again do you mean We Ethiopian kemalam???
By Mama Ethiopia on Jun 14, 2008 | Reply
“Commentary
Removing Zenawi regime crucial to securing Ethiopia
By Tedla Asfwa | June 13, 2008
——————————————————————————–
An Ethiopian elder who took part in the first secret border demarcation talks chaired by government officials Mesfin Seyume and Addissu Legesse said the secret deal started in Sudan a year before the 2005 Ethiopian election, according to a June 12 Voice of America (VOA) report whose audio clip has been posted on abbaymedia.com.
The elder said the demarcation was stopped following the election crisis, and was now in full gear to place Ethiopian areas under Sudanese sovereignty, a measure which has already displaced hundreds of thousands of farmers in Gonder area alone.
A Sudanese presidential adviser told VOA Straight Talk Africa last Wednesday that areas that belonged to Sudan were “historically Ethiopian administered areas.”
What is happening in northern and northwestern Ethiopia is repeated in southern Ethiopia while the country’s famine is taking the lives of children and many Ethiopians go to bed without food. The US and UK are, meanwhile, encouraging the Meles Zenawi regime to increase its military budget to fight wars in all fronts while they take care of the food crisis. The design is to quash a would-be popular uprising that would result in the downfall of the Zenawi regime in a similar fashion to the 1974 Revolution that brought about the downfall of the Monarchy.
The secret deal between Al-Bashir and Meles Zenawi is now in the implementation stage, believing the attention of Ethiopians and the world community is arrested by hunger, the war in the Ogaden and Somalia.
Zenawi and Al-Bashir understand very well the current window of opportunity shouldn’t be missed, and the process of handing over sovereign Ethiopian areas to Khartoum should be wrapped up in the shortest time possible. To hit the nail in the head, Seyoum Mesfin, Zenawi’s foreign minister, was secretly and officially seen in Khartoum, and was also seen in Gambella with South Sudanese officials under a theme, “Cooperation with South Sudan.”
Currently Sudan is subsidizing Ethiopia’s huge oil demand, and this was one of the revelations of the June 12 VOA interview.
“If Ethiopian elders sign away Ethiopian lands to Sudan, Ethiopia will get Sudanese oil in return.” However, the Ethiopian elders rejected the land-for-oil deal, thus leaving Seyume and Addissu use their own hirelings to sign the deal.
The brave man also said an armed resistance to eject the Sudan militias was underway in North, and there is no doubt down the armed resistance will catch up in southern Ethiopia. The question now is who is standing for Ethiopia on our Western front?
The armed resistance in Gonder area, whatever we name it, is being waged by our people to defend our land from Sudanese militias and TPLF forces, and this was revealed also on this interesting interview. Who is who in this struggle is clear here. Simply put, the line-up is Ethiopian nationalist forces against Sudan and TPLF. The Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), whose spokesperson recently denounced the Sudanese invasion, should also consider to join hands with other Ethiopian forces.
An armed uprising is a must to break the Zenawi-Bashir chain of operation against Ethiopia. It is only when we remove Zenawi’s TPLF that we can also proceed to resolving a crisis whether in the Ogaden, Oromia or Sudan’s “land claim.”
—
By kebede on Jun 15, 2008 | Reply
KEMALAM WEYANE ENJI YE ETHIOPIA LEJ AYDELEM WEYANE EDEGMEWALHU KEMALAM NEW.
By Mama Ethiopia on Jun 30, 2008 | Reply
Dear kebede,
I read your letter please grow upp.dont be like a new born child.we dont like woyane but respekt other too.instead of reasioning and critize you become desparate.learn from other intellecutal.
By desalegn on Jul 16, 2008 | Reply
i dont think that ethiopian poltical crisis will change if obama elected as a presidant of america.as meles said ethiopian problem can only solved by ethiopian.