Skip to main content

Ethiopia Needs Ambassadors like General Bacha and Dr. Sileshi To Prevail In International Diplomacy

LEFT: General Bacha Debele and Dr. Sileshi Bekele


By Alemayehu Dessu

—  a Sociologist and a Researcher 



The Office of the President yesterday announced the appointment of 27 Ambassadors and some of the names in the list have shocked many Ethiopians. But it should not be so.

The appointment of General Bacha Debele, senior member of ENDF, and Dr. Sileshi Bekele, GERD Negotiator and Minister of Water, as Ambassadors among others has shocked many because most believe these men were fulfilling their responsibilities to their fullest capacities and some felt they should be left where they are.

The first misconception here arises from the notion that being assigned as an Ambassador is the same as being pushed away from the center stage of Ethiopian politics. This perception was instilled when the EPRDF government was in power and usually the EPRDF leadership, when they are dissatisfied with a certain official they appoint them as Ambassadors somewhere in the world and keep them at bay from the center of politics. Hence, Ethiopians were, unfortunately, accustomed to believing that being assigned as an Ambassador is a punishment rather than recognition for their good service. However, EPRDF’s style of appointing an Ambassador has cost Ethiopia a lot, especially now when it needed its Ambassadors to actively resist the foreign pressure directed towards Ethiopia.

The second perception is that like most Africans, Ethiopians are accustomed to believing that their countries lack qualified and responsible people. Hence, when the likes of General Bacha and Dr. Sileshi, who once had the opportunity to be seen publicly throughout Ethiopia and the world, are given a new role, people automatically think the government is making a big mistake. This is a dangerous pattern of thinking that breeds dictators. There are many Ethiopians who are capable of replacing those giants.

Third, historically we Ethiopians are also accustomed to believing that when a leader dies or departs, there will be an apocalypse immediately. After the death of the late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi this was the case. But Ethiopia moved on.

But the fact remains that foreign relations from here onwards will be Ethiopia’s center stage in politics and anyone who is at the frontline of this role holds the biggest responsibility. And Ethiopia has many competent and responsible men and women but just because they are not publicly seen, it does not mean the country lacks competent personnel. What they lack is the opportunity to serve their country. Finally, if we wish for Ethiopia to succeed in all sectors, we must let go of the thinking that attaches us to one single person. We must avoid building a cult of personality. We must instead learn to give a chance to others who might be as capable as or even better than their predecessors.

--

Alemayehu Dessu is a sociologist and a researcher. He can be reached at lijalex@yahoo.com.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ethiopia's Mufti Haji Omar Idris featured in the World's Most Influential 500 Muslims 2022 list

ADDIS ABABA, NOVEMBER 07, 2021 — Ethiopia's Mufti Haji Omar Idris enters the prestigious list of World's Most Influential 500 Muslims 2022 for a consecutive year. Mufti Haji Omar is selected as the most influential in the scholarly category. The 500 Most Influential Muslims (also known as The Muslim 500) is an annual publication first published in 2009, which ranks the most influential Muslims in the world.    The publication is compiled by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre in Amman, Jordan. The report is issued in cooperation with Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University in the United States.   Mufti Haji Omar was born in Wollo, Amhara region, Ethiopia, where he completed his Quranic studies. He is the leader of Ethiopian Muslims as the President of Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council and head of the Fatwa and Da'wa Councils.    Widely respected among both Christians and Muslims in Ethiopia, he is a pr
Post a Comment
Read more

Ethiopia introduces its first Field Marshal rank amid changes to insignia

  ADDIS ABABA, JANUARY 08, 2022 - Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) announced new changes to its military ranks and insignia amid a rank promotion ceremony held today where the army chief General Birhanu Jula was awarded Ethiopia's first Field Marshal rank in light of his extraordinary acts in the face of a national crisis. LEFT: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, President Sahle-Work Zewde and Field Marshal Birhanu Jula The rank promotion was granted to those who led battles and brought results. In addition to the Field Marshal, Lt. General Bacha Debele, Lt. General Abebaw Tadesse, Lt. General Hassen Ibrahim and Lt. General Getachew Gudina were promoted to General, 14 to Lieutenant General, 24 to Major General and 58 were promoted to Brigadier Generals.  "You were awarded the ranks because of the courage you showed on the battle field. Sacrifices made for Ethiopia and for the people requires recognition which is beyond words. This promotion is a recognition to you and a l
Post a Comment
Read more

TPLF destroys thousands of health facilities in Ethiopia within 5 months and WHO is quiet

  ADDIS ABABA, DECEMBER 13, 2021 - Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) has destroyed more than three thousand health facilities during its occupation of parts of Afar and Amhara regions in the past five months. In Afar, it destroyed 60 health centers while 40 hospitals, 453 health stations, 1,850 health posts, 4 blood banks and 1 oxygen factory were destroyed in Amhara region. Dessie Specialized Hospital was established 80 years ago to serve 10 million citizens from Amhara, Tigray and Afar regions. It was the only specialized hospital in east Amhara. Unfortunately, it was looted and destroyed by the TPLF terrorists. "They have stolen expensive equipment worth millions such as the ventilators used in ICU. We had seven of them. They have stolen all of them. The warehouses were looted. They have taken our anesthesia machines and we cannot conduct surgery anymore.", said Dr. Haymanot Ayele, Director of the Dessie Specialized Hospital. "We receive 450,000 patients in
Post a Comment
Read more