A paradigm shift in the Ethiopian Diaspora

A demonstration in support of peace and development in Ethiopia, involving hundreds of Ethiopians and Ethiopian Americans, took place last week in Washington. Demonstrations by Ethiopians in Washington are nothing new, but this was something of a watershed, underlining an important shift of politics within the Diaspora. This is not simply because of the unusually large number of those involved in the demonstration, nor the fact that Ethiopians and Ethiopian Americans had come out in droves to support Ethiopia’s determined effort in its quest to end poverty and bring about economic development. After all, the majority of the Ethiopian Diaspora, albeit all-too-often a silent majority, has always been supportive of their homeland. What is new is that the hitherto silent majority finally seems to have decided that enough is enough, and determined to stand up to the violent intimidation and name-calling of the few, if vocal opposition extremists, and to demonstrate its support for Ethiopia.

This raises an interesting, and important question: what has brought about this change. Certainly, it is not a secret that their country, Ethiopia, has during the last few years shown to all who have been prepared to observe that the country is on an unmistakable trajectory towards producing sustainable peace, democracy, and rapid economic development. This is the sort of progress that has, unfortunately, been lacking for several decades. In Ethiopia today, there is renewed hope and optimism, cemented by the proven record of the government and people of Ethiopia and underlined by their uncompromising commitment to bring about rapid economic development, and, indeed the transformation of the state. The trend in Ethiopia towards a national consensus on core issues of peace, democracy, and economic development is unmistakable as the recent election resoundingly demonstrated. In fact, it should be no surprise if this growing national consensus should also be reflected in the Diaspora.

Indeed, the statement issued by the organisers on the day of the demonstration unambiguously illustrates that fact. Among other things, the demonstrators expressed their support to Ethiopia’s right for a fair and equitable use of the Nile River; they expressed their full support to the unremitting efforts to eliminate poverty and to the economic growth that is being registered in the country year after year. They also expressed their rejection of those critics who, in the name of opposition, are trying to hold the country back from the path of development, constantly trying to destroy Ethiopia’s image by continuous smear campaigns and repeated distortions of fact.

Although the demonstration in Washington last week is only a beginning, it is clearly indicative of the apparent paradigm shift in the politics of the Diaspora. It is clear that the days when only a few disgruntled extremist Diaspora figures dominated the scene have gone. The Ethiopian Diaspora is now showing its determination to support its country’s efforts to make poverty history, and have decided to play an active part in this historic endeavour. Coincidentally, last week, after taking stock of the performance of the last five-year development plan and double-digit growth registered for the last seven consecutive years, Ethiopia unveiled an ambitious five-year plan, the Growth and Transformation Plan, to target annual economic growth rates well beyond the 11% average of the last few years. This plan, as its name suggests, is not an ordinary development plan. It envisages a level of economic growth that will irreversibly transform the Ethiopian economy. Achieving this vision over the next five years will undoubtedly require the efforts of everybody, in Ethiopia and in the Diaspora. This is why the timing of the demonstration last week was so welcome, as was the commitment of the demonstrators to support their homeland. It underlines the demand for all Ethiopians abroad to play an active part in the potentially historic transformation of development efforts in Ethiopia and its democratisation.