Will Ethiopians Join in the People’s Movement for Change as it Blows from North Africa?

All eyes are on Tunisia right now following the startling news of the peoples’ uprising that ousted their iron-fisted president, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, after being in power for twenty-three years. It has sent shockwaves of fear to other strongmen throughout Africa, the Middle East and the world; all who are rightfully worried that their own subjugated people will similarly rise up against them. 

In Africa, these winds of change that started blowing from Tunisia in North Africa will now blow to the South to countries like Zimbabwe and from countries like Mauritania in the West to Ethiopia in the East. Tragically, this is a continent where the majority of its people are held hostage by dictators, like Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, and their cronies, both domestic and foreign, who rob them of their lives, well being and futures while ravishing their resources. Yet, once the wind starts it is hard to stop. It has already started stirring up the seeds of discontent in places like Albania, Egypt, Algeria and Mauritania. It is only a matter of time before it reaches to Ethiopia. 

Meles Zenawi, the strongman of Ethiopia, already is reacting to this ominous message—that despite his tight grip on the people, as well as “having friends” in important places, that even he and his apartheid regime could be overthrown by the power of the people—as almost already happened in 2005! That must be why he is so desperately trying to block the “wind” of information about Tunisia from blowing into the cities, towns and villages of Ethiopia for it could inspire Ethiopians to head for Meskel Square! It is only a matter of time, but before that happens, we in the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia (SMNE) believe we Ethiopians must take charge of the sails of our boat; carefully using the wind to propel us forward in the direction we want to go.Read More