Long live to Ethiopia By Obang Metho

Obang Metho

As you look at the many different faces of Ethiopians shown above, you will see a reflection of the genuine unity of Ethiopia I envision for the future, where the beauty, uniqueness and inclusion of all Ethiopians are valued and acknowledged regardless of their ethnicities.

You may not know the name, the age, the language, the ethnicity, the religion or the background of those beautiful pictured, but we do know that each is a precious human being, worthy of love, respect, dignity and basic rights as equal citizens and members of Ethiopian society.

These Ethiopian people symbolize the many faces of Ethiopia that create a beautiful garden of humanity within our borders. This is what our movement of the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia (SMNE) and I’m human movement is about—putting the people first.

This is not a solidarity of a ethnicity or tribe, a class, a language, a religion or a region, but of all Ethiopians who believe that one’s own freedom, justice, peace and opportunity is best preserved and enhanced through the protection and advancement of the freedom, justice, peace and opportunity of their fellow citizens.

This is a movement of the people that calls Ethiopians to reach out to each other in reconciliation, forgiveness, compassion and acceptance.

The image of Ethiopia to the rest of the world is a negative one for we are known for our poverty, starvation, homelessness, ethnic conflicts, ethnic federalism, ethno-nationalism and endless suffering.

We bear some responsibility for our misery for we have failed to love, value humanity and respect others and to fear God and the moral law.

This failure is not ours alone, but has been greatly worsened in the last 40 years by the past and the present Ethiopian leaders who believe in tribalism and exploit the people for their own self-interest and their ethnic group interests.

These ethnocentric leaders and their elite colleagues, as well as the rich and powerful nations in the world who may ignore our call, may abandon Ethiopia, but Allah/God will never abandon Ethiopia and its precious people.

This is the foundational belief that undergirds the SMNE/I’m human movement and it is our duty to revive and transform our nation.

It is critical for us the people of Ethiopia to reviews the issues posed by our national unity question with particular reference to the defective ethnic federalism constitution, federal structure, federal character issue, revenue allocation dislocation and Ethiopian citizenship question. It should further explores how to strengthen our common ideals in order to foster genuine unity in diversity.

Unity in diversity is one major stepping stone towards the attainment of nationhood and the need to promote it by good adaptation or adoption as dictated by true federalism and genuine federal restructuring should never be compromised for ethnic loyalties.

Unity in diversity in Ethiopia’s nationhood is the only way forward to create harmonious society NOT ethnic based unity of the ethnic federalism.

Unity in diversity means being one or united in spite of the various differences in the social, political, economic, geographical and cultural spheres. Unity in diversity therefore is reflected when people have started learning how to build a strong, virile nation out of the different tribes and issues.

What we need in Ethiopia is federalism not ethnic federalism. Federalism is a form of government where the component units of a political organization participate in sharing powers and functions in a cooperative manner though the combined forces of ethnic pluralism and cultural diversity, among others, tend to pull their people apart.

The American mode of federalism which is greatly aided by a possession of common aspirations and common ideals is what I am recommended for Ethiopia.

May Allah/God free Ethiopians from the chains of ethnic federalism, tribalism, ethnic extremism, making Ethiopian bold and courageous and strengthening their minds and hands to do the great work of justice, freedom and peace for all!

Long live Ethiopia!

I love this pictures! by Obang Metho

Obang Metho

I love this pictures. These precious human beings and beautiful children I have met throughout Ethiopia remind me of my childhood. I see myself in these adorable Ethiopian children. They're all so beautiful and pure. It's an innocence which at heart, remind me of myself!

It breaks my heart whenever I see our Ethiopian children neglected, abused and ends up homeless and some of them struggle with mental health, substance abuse and experience physical and psychological trauma.

Whenever I hear a sad stories about our children and compared it to my own, I could not be silent because my childhood was the best part of my life.

When I was once a child, I was protected not only by my family, but also by my community.

As a grownup man, I now have that duty to protect other human beings regardless of their ethnicity or religious: especially the children, young adults, women, the vulnerable, the disabled, the forgotten, the marginalized, the discriminated against, the hungry and those in harm’s way.

These amazing Ethiopians in the pictures and millions more throughout Ethiopia are me and I am them. They are my family and my people regardless of their ethnicity, skin colour, language, sex, religion and etc.

As we all know children depend on many adults as they grow up. Parents, relatives, teachers and child care workers all provide children with love, support and guidance.

Our Ethiopian children need to be protected and given the chance to just be children and never ignore the growing risks our children are facing.

Every child throughout Ethiopia deserves a childhood in all its fullness. It is our responsibility as citizens to work together to protect our children. Together, we can protect our children and give them a better future.

That’s why I am appealing to Ethiopian families everywhere and leaders at all levels to do everything in their power to protect our children and our future.

As for me, I will always acted as a protector and watch tower to our children, our women, the disabled, the elderly and the most vulnerable of society until the day I pass on from this unkind world of hatred, extremism, greed and guns.

As for every Ethiopian citizens, we have a responsibility to prepare our children and students for a brighter and prosperous future.

Our children are entitled to a free and quality basic education the children of today are the adult citizens of tomorrow.

Education is a shared responsibility between us all and it will determine success for individuals and for the nations. In other words a good nation is good because of how education has shaped the perspective and understanding of the populace!

We need to give all children an inclusive and quality education. Quality education is the most empowering force in the world. No country can really develop unless its citizens are educated.

An educated citizenry is the best guarantee for a justice, freedom, peace, equality and thriving democracy.

Rethinking the purpose of Ethiopian’s education and reaffirming a humanistic approach to education has never been more urgent than ever before.

Quality education will make us a better citizens NOT ethno-nationalists as it is today under ethnic federalism by teaching our children how to conduct themselves through life. Quality education will also enables the process of the nation's peace, stability and fast development.

Our education system should includes kindnesses, forgiveness, humanity and integrity in our school curricula and textbooks.

A quality education is key to a child's future success and it will help students to become active, knowledgeable citizens of the nation and relationships with students and peers they might never had have the chance to know otherwise !

Indeed quality teaching is essential to give students the foundational literacy and numeracy on which lifelong learning depends. Quality education requires a safe and friendly environment.

It is crucial to ensure that education quality, inclusion and equity. More than ever before in our nation's history, education is not only the ticket to our national unity, peace, economic success, but also to basic survival.

Can we honestly say that we're doing enough to keep our Ethiopian children — all of them — safe from harm?” Absolutely not!

Our precious children are expecting us to do more about their wellbeing and better future! No longer can any of us use the excuse that we did not know! Now, we all know!

May Allah/God change the course we are on and heal this beautiful country we call home.

May Allah/God free Ethiopians from the chains of fear, making them bold and courageous and strengthening their hands to do the great work of peace!

May Allah/God start a moral revolution in our hearts and minds, where we can converge in love in the name of brotherhood, sisterhood and humanity.

Long live Ethiopia!

I would like to express my deepest sympathy to who lost their loved ones in Metekel Zone

 Obang Metho

I would like to express my deepest sympathy to who lost their loved ones in Metekel Zone of the Benshangul Gumez and pray that the wounded will soon recover.

According to the eyewitnesses in the area more than 130 people were killed in Metekel Zone. This is another ethnic cleansing in different region of Ethiopia against the innocent people.

These are egregious crimes, piercing the hearts of many caring Ethiopian people; not only within the Amhara, Agew, Gumez, Shinasha and Oromo communities, but far beyond.

Each incident has an overwhelming component of tribalism gone wrong. How unjust is it to kill, rob and steal from another collective group, dehumanizing them as the other simply because of their ethnicity or the way they look? How wrong is it to commit crimes without any compassion because the other(s) are not part of your own group? How immoral is it to take revenge against some random person, who has done nothing but be of the same ethnicity as the person inflicting harm to some within your own collective group?

Recurring ethnic cleansing and avoidable tragedies result when the worst of tribalism is carried out against the collective other; whether on a small-scale, institutionalized into systems like ethnic federalism or mixed together and exploited. Unfortunately, the consequences of these tragedies are now serious and far-reaching.

To further complicate matters, they must be dealt with in an environment entirely lacking the supports for success. Collective punishment flourishes in environments where there is a failure of justice.

It shows a weak rule of law that is ineffective in ensuring protection for the innocent from collective attacks and hindering those impacted from taking collective revenge. One person can kill another without any consequences.

Ethnic federalism and its policies that capitalize on ethnic differences or other distinctions actually promotes this.

Putting humanity before ethnicity or other differences and caring about the freedom of others— for no one is free until all are free— could have created a different ending for each of the tragic stories affecting Ethiopians that have unfolded for years. These incidents did not have to happen, but in each case, could have been avoided or lessened in severity. Much of the pain, suffering, death and loss of countless people and their loved ones could have been avoided had those involved simply put these principles into practice.

This is the time when reconciliation among the people is of utmost importance to make sure that ethnic cleansing doesn’t happened again.

In closing, I am heartbroken by what has been happening and believe we can find a genuine solution if we are willing to embrace values that support not only our own collective group, but all our people— putting humanity before ethnicity, or any other difference.

Human life is precious and as a society, when these lives are lost, we grieve together regardless of ethnicity, religion, regional background, political view or any other differences.

Until we, Ethiopians are all free, no one will be free and secure. These principles, upheld by individuals, communities, ethnic groups and the rule of law, could have stopped all of these tragedies from occurring.

May Allah/God strengthen the families of those who have lost loved ones as they go through this difficult time.

May Allah/God heal our land from the blood, death and sorrow that has wounded our souls.

May Allah/God make our own hearts fertile soil for healthy growth so we can look at each other as part of our precious Ethiopian family.

Long live this beautiful, ancient land of Ethiopia we call our sweet home.

Kjetil has now been freed and is on his way home

 The arrest and detention of Kjetil Tronvoll, a highly regarded and engaged scholar with a particular expertise on Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa, will have a chilling effect on freedom of expression and academic inquiry. Kjetil has now been freed and is on his way home.

Norwegian professor Kjetil Tronvoll is said to have been abducted by police at Bole Airport in the capital Addis Ababa. He most recently came from Mekelle in the Tigray region, where he followed the "illegal election" criticized by the central government.

According to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, information was received during the evening that a Norwegian citizen had been detained at the airport.

- We have also been informed that he now has the opportunity to travel further, says Ane Lunde at the press service at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Kjetil Tronvoll is head of the think tank Oslo Analytica as well as professor of peace and conflict knowledge at Bjorknes University. For the past thirty years, he has conducted field studies in Ethiopia, Eritrea and Zanzibar and also worked as an advisor and mediator in several peace processes.

One of his special areas is the development of democracy on the African continent.

But his presence during the election, which was won by the former ruling TPLF party, has been criticized by supporters of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for taking a stand for the opposition party.

Something he rejected on twitter this week.

"Just to clarify. I observe the election as part of my 30-year research on political developments in Tigray and Ethiopia. Studying a process does not mean supporting it, but the empirical reality is a key to later being able to analyze the situation. Some seem to confuse this, "wrote the Norwegian professor.

In another follow-up comment on twitter, Kjetil Tronvoll wrote that there was a smear campaign against his presence with allegations that he was there and working illegally on a tourist visa.

"It's fake! I am here as part of my work as an adjunct professor at the University of Mekelle on an official visa issued by the Ethiopian government. ”

The whole of Ethiopia was supposed to go to the polls in August, but they were postponed to the future. However, politicians in the Tigray region have opposed the postponement of national elections indefinitely, criticizing the Prime Minister for remaining in power without winning any election.

That is why the region's politicians have arranged their own.

In an interview that Kjetil Tronvoll did recently with Al-Jazeera, he highlighted that both the people in the region and the TPLF party have undergone radical changes in recent years.

According to the ruling party TPLF, what has now taken place is a historic election that has given citizens an opportunity to choose between different political alternatives. They have also warned the government against intervening or in any way trying to stop the election because, according to them, it would be "a declaration of war".

Relations between Tigray and the central government in Addis Ababa are strained, and in the past the TPLF, the dominant party in Tigray, has dropped out of government cooperation.

When asked by state television (EBC) about the election, the prime minister replied that it was a "minor headache" and that "the election is illegal because only the country's national election commission can hold elections in Ethiopia".

When Professor Kjetil Tronvoll returned to Addis Ababa's airport Bole, he was taken away and detained, according to other passengers.

On Twitter, The Economist correspondent Tom Gardner writes that he was taken to a hotel.

According to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he now has the opportunity to continue his journey.

By Martin Schibbye | September 13, 2020

Time flies so fast it seems like it was just yesterday when I received Ethiopia’s Bego Sewu award

Time flies so fast it seems like it was just yesterday when I received Ethiopia’s Bego Sewu award የበጎ ሰው ሽልማት

Below is the inserts or quotes from my speech at the award ceremony:

“Thank you የበጎ ሰው ሽልማት or Bego Sewu organization for acknowledging me and the work of the Solidarity Movement for a New Ethiopia (SMNE) and its members in honoring us with this prestigious award for work done for the people of

#Ethiopia in the Diaspora and within Ethiopia.

Yebego Sew Award

While I deeply thank you for this honor, I want to emphasize that the real winner of this የበጎ ሰው or Yeametu Bego Sewu award is the universal principles that are foundational to this work; the belief that humanity comes before ethnicity or any other difference because we are all created equal and also that God calls us to care about our neighbors— near, far and beyond— not only because it is right, but because no will be sustainably free until all are free. In other words, this is not about me, Obang or even our movement,the SMNE, but it is an endorsement of the principles we have held as central to our work and vision for a New Ethiopia.

I may be receiving this የበጎ ሰው Bego Sewu award today, but this will make no lasting difference unless each of us Ethiopians becomes the good person of the hour, the day, the week, the month, the year and the future. Help make a difference in the lives of others Ethiopians.

We can do that at the same time, collaborating towards a common goal. Look at some examples of success through collaboration—the joining of Ethiopians together led to the Adwa victory.

The joining of Ethiopians to reach out to other Africans in the early 1950ties led to the formation of the African Union. After that, we saw the formation of Ethiopian Airlines, which has become the pride of Africa, one of its success stories, only accomplished because of effective collaboration.

May we the people of Ethiopia humble ourselves to become people of virtue and moral courage. We have responsibility. The good person of the year can be you!

Let’s do it together, blessing others and being blessed as people and a nation in a global world!

Long Live Ethiopia!

Obang Metho