Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is planning to visit the United States this coming July. During his stay, he will meet with American Government officials, as well as Ethiopians who live in various cities throughout the U.S.
PM Abiy has formally requested the Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America (ESFNA) to address its annual gathering on July 5, 2018.
ESFNA, a sports and cultural organization, has never allowed an Ethiopian government official to attend its annual gathering because of the atrocious human rights conditions in Ethiopia.
But because PM Abiy has promised to bring positive changes and kept almost all of his promises so far, ESFNA board is expected to accord him a warm welcome in recognition of his achievement so far, and to encourage him to stay on course.
Since the new Prime Minister came to power less than two months ago, he has released thousands of political prisoners, apologized to the people of Ethiopia for the misdeeds and brutality of the government and security forces, allowed opposition parties to operate freely, called for reconciliation, fully embraced Ethiopian unity, and called on Ethiopians in the Diaspora to return to their country.
Just a few days before PM Abiy came to power, Ethiopia was on the brink of a bloody civil war. The country was in turmoil as protests and civil unrest spread throughout the country. But God works in mysterious ways when it comes to Ethiopia, either to punish or bless her people. It is nothing short of a miracle that suddenly Abiy Ahmed, Lema Megersa, and other young leaders emerged from within the ruling coalition and forced the old guard to hand over power. Just a few days before becoming Prime Minister, there was an arrest warrant out for Abiy.
Ethiopians today are cautiously optimistic.
We are cautious because of Ethiopia’s military and intelligence apparatus are still dominated by TPLF, the ethnic minority junta that has tormented the people of Ethiopia for the past 27 years.
At the same time, we are optimistic because we believe that the change we are witnessing today in Ethiopia came by divine intervention through the hard-fought struggle of Ethiopian youth, particularly those in Oromo and Amhara regions. Maybe God has finally heard the prayers and cries of Ethiopians. Just a few weeks ago who would have thought that Ethiopia’s prisons will be emptied of political prisoners.
Good things are, indeed, happening in Ethiopia under the leadership of Abiy Ahmed. ESFNA will be making the right decision by warmly welcoming him in Dallas, Texas, this coming July. We all will be there to greet him and cheer him on.
[Photo: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Oromia Region President Lema Megersa, the two young leaders who are spearheading Ethiopia’s current reform drive]
