Credit: Gary Raynaldo /  (Left to Right)  Lencho Bati, Senior Political, Diplomatic, and Foreign Policy Advisor, Office of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Mamo Mihretu Senior Adviser on Policy Reforms and Chief Trade Negotiator, Office of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, and Fitsum Arega Gebrekidan Ambassador to the U.S., Ethiopia, participate in the United States Institute of Peace forum:  “A Changing Ethiopia: Understanding Medemer Can A New Political Philosophy Remake Ethiopia?”  – held Feb. 13, 2020 in Washington D.C.

By Gary Raynaldo      DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

WASHINGTON  D.C.  –  Nobel Peace Prize winner and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has unveiled a new political philosophy for his country: “medemer,” an Amharic word which literally translates as “addition,” or “coming together.”  But just what does this Medemer really mean?  During this crucial period of reform and uncertainty in the Horn-of-Africa nation Ethiopia,  the United States Institute of Peace hosted a  panel that included representatives of the Office of Prime Minister Ahmed for a look at the questions, possibilities, and problems offered by medemer.  “A Changing Ethiopia: Understanding Medemer Can A New Political Philosophy Remake Ethiopia?”  held Feb. 13, 2020 at the USIP  in Washington D.C.  It was a lively debate that got underway with Fitsum Arega Gebrekidan,  Ethiopia’s Ambassador to the U.S.,  explaining this concept of medemer.   “The government has introduced a series of reforms to open up and transform the economy and  generate employment opportunities especially for the youth and women of Ethiopia,” Ambassador Gerekidan stated.  He added,  “The Prime Minister explained that medemer is a homegrown ideal of synergy, convergence for a common destiny.  The inclusiveness of medemer insures that no one is left behind”.

Credit Gary Raynaldo /  Fitsum Arega Gebrekidan, Ambassador to the U.S., Ethiopia,  explaining the concept of medemer at USIP in Washington D.C. Feb. 13, 2020. 

The Ethiopian Ambassador added that Ethiopia is opening up to allow more inclusiveness to participate in the political process.  Ambassador Gebrekidan also said Ethiopia is supporting the private sector by encouraging privatization of various sectors including power, telecommunications, and railroads.

DIPLOMATIC TIMES  Video /-Fitsum Arega Gebrekidan,  Ethiopian Ambassador to the U.S.  explains  that “Forgiveness” is  a crucial aspect of Medemer  to unite all Ethiopians. 

“We support the private sector for full privatization.  We need to change the business climate. For the first timer, railroads have been opened for privatization.”

-Fitsum Arega Gebrekidan,  Ethiopian Ambassador to the U.S.

Credit: Gary Raynaldo  / Lencho Bati, Senior Political, Diplomatic, and Foreign Policy Advisor, Office of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia speaks at USIP in Washington D.C. Feb. 13, 2020.

Meanwhile, Lencho Bati, Senior Political, Diplomatic, and Foreign Policy Advisor, Office of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, said the government struggles with how to hold a diverse nation like Ethiopia together as it embarks on state-building.

“Ethiopia is one of the oldest diverse countries in Africa. Medemer means trying to find common ground to mobilize and build together.  Creating a partnership with the private and public sectors. It is a synergy. We are inviting  private investors to come int. We need to come together. Our diversity is a blessing. We need to come together for the  common good of Ethiopia.”

Lencho Bati, Senior Political, Diplomatic, and Foreign Policy Advisor, Office of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia.

DIPLOMATIC TIMES Video / Lencho Bati, Senior Political, Diplomatic, and Foreign Policy Advisor, Office of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia
speaks on past history and challenges in new Ethiopia at USIP in Washington D.C. Feb. 13, 2020. 

Ethiopian Professor Calls For Prime Minister  Ahmed To Resign Over Killings and Jailing of Opposition 

Credit: Gary Raynaldo /  Etana Dinka , visiting Assistant Professor of African History and Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow, Oberlin College, Ohio, US, was extremely critical of medemer and P.M. Ahmed at the USIP forum.

Growing Ethnic Violence threatens Ethiopia  goal of  Medemer  Unity 

Last October 2019, at least 67 people were  been killed and more than 200 injured in protests in Ethiopia’s  Oromia region. Nineteen people were killed in direct clashes with security forces, according to media reports, while the others were killed in clashes between supporters of Prime Minister Ahmed and supporters of Jawar Mohammed, an independent media owner and a prominent critic of the premier.   Some critics see Medemer as an empty slogan,  and just an attempt to keep PM Ahmed grip on power and dominance  in Ethiopian politics. 

“The Prime Minister Ahmed is a problem to Ethiopian reform, and removing him from power is the priority.  In reform, we need to open the  space equally to the opposition. Hundreds of opposition supporters are being put in jail, farmers are being killed on their own farms. Citizens are being killed. The political space has not been open as promised. There is no equal opportunity given to the opposition. The political party is hijacking every government institution to promote this ideal of medemer.  Medemer is not a new philosophy at all. It has no practical value. It is a return to an Imperial Ethiopia. It is a Hell.”

-Etana Dinka ,  Assistant Professor of African History and Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow, Oberlin College, Ohio.

DIPLOMATIC TIMES Video / Etana Dinka , visiting Assistant Professor of African History and Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow, Oberlin College, Ohio, US,  blames PM Ahmed for blocking reforms and says Ahmed should resign as the real solution to reform in Ethiopia  and for the salvation of the  Horn-of-Africa nation at USIP in Washington D.C. Feb. 13, 2020.