Al Mariam’s Commentaries Archive
01 Mar 2020
Bait and Switch Diplomacy: Is the U.S. an “Observer”, A “Facilitator” or a Snake Oil Diplomatic Salesman in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance (Hedase) Dam Discussions?
Author’s Note: In 1959, Egypt and Sudan made a deal to share the waters of the Nile allocating 78 percent to Egypt and 12 percent to the Sudan. Ethiopia was not consulted or involved in the deal. Egypt in a variety of ways is seeking to preserve that privilege and schemes to constrain Ethiopia’s use
03 Feb 2020
Unity Park Addis Ababa: The Story of All of Us in the City Upon the Hill
Those who can, will help us. Those who cannot, should leave us alone. Those who do not understand what we do will criticize us. Those who do not like what we do will oppose us. — H.E. Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed The Story of All of Us: Ode to Unity Park in Addis Ababa
25 Jan 2020
የጠቅላይ ሚኒስትር አብይ አህመድ መልዕክት ለኢትዮጵያ ወጣቶች፡ “በብልጽግና ፓርቲ ከድህነት ነጻ እንወጣለን!”
የፀሐፊው ማስታወሻ: ይህ ጽሁፍ በእንግሊዘኛ ጃኑዋሪ 6 2020 ወጥቶ ነበር:: እዚህ ይጫኑ: PM Abiy Ahmed’s Message to Ethiopia’s Youth: Up From Poverty With Prosperity Party! በፕሮፌሰር አለማየሁ ገብረ ማርያም ትርጉም ከኢንግሊዘኛ ነፃነት ለሀገሬ ከጥቂት ቀናት በፊት ጠቅላይ ሚኒስትር አብይ አህመድ የብልጽግና ፓርቲን ለማስተዋወቅ በአዲስ አበባ ሚሊኒየም የስብሰባ አዳራሽ ለተሰበሰቡት ወጣቶች ያሰሙትን ንግግር ባዳመጥኩ ጊዜ በአእምሮየ
19 Jan 2020
Democracy, the End Game in Ethiopia: From EleKtions to Free and Fair Elections in 2020 (Part II)
… My view is that rule of law is a quintessential principle of good democratic governance. It is a vital part of statecraft (the art of leading a country). It is a fundamental element in nation-building, state-building, peace-building, democracy-building, justice-building and truth and reconciliation. I do not equate the rule of law with democracy, but
12 Jan 2020
The End of EleKtions and Dictatorship and the Beginning of Free and Fair Elections and Democracy in Ethiopia (Part I)
Author’s Note: As the 2020 Ethiopian general election looms, I am filled with hope and expectation that Ethiopia for the first time in its millennia-long history will have a free and fair election and transition to democracy. Ethiopia today is at a crossroads. On May 22, 2015, in anticipation of general elections that month, I
06 Jan 2020
PM Abiy Ahmed’s Message to Ethiopia’s Youth: Up From Poverty With Prosperity Party!
When I listened to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed introducing his Prosperity Party to a gathering of youth at Millennium Hall in Adds Ababa a few days ago, I had two reactions. The first was pure elation. In my lifetime, I have never heard an Ethiopian leader teaching the youth to put peace above politics, humanity
01 Jan 2020
Making History With the Ethiopian Diaspora Trust Fund: 22 Projects Shortlisted for Funding!
WISHING ALL IN THE EDTF FAMILY, FRIENDS OF EDTF AND ALL OTHERS A HAPPY NEW YEAR! The Ethiopian Diaspora Trust Fund (EDTF) Board of Directors (BoD) and Advisory Council (AC) are proud to announce the selection of 22 projects for funding pending capacity and budgetary reviews. EDTF was launched in August 2018 when H.E. Prime
30 Dec 2019
Hate, Hearts and Minds: “Creating an Ethiopia That is Second to None in Its Guarantee of Freedom of Expression” (Part II)
Now the other myth that gets around is the idea that legislation cannot really solve the problem and that it has no great role to play in this period of social change because you’ve got to change the heart and you can’t change the heart through legislation. You can’t legislate morals. The job must be
22 Dec 2019
Hate, Hearts and Minds: “Creating an Ethiopia That is Second to None in Its Guarantee of Freedom of Expression” (Part I)
“We are creating an Ethiopia that is second to none in its guarantee of freedom of expression. We should avoid the path of extremism and division, powered by the politics of exclusion. Our accord hangs in the balance of inclusive politics. The evangelists of hate and division are wreaking havoc in our society using social
16 Dec 2019
Ethiopian Diaspora Trust Fund First Annual Fundraiser: I have a dream…
Author’s Note: Below is my speech at the First Annual Ethiopian Diaspora Trust Fund (EDTF) fundraising Gala. It has been a labor of love for me to serve as Chairman of the Ethiopian Diaspora Trust Fund and work with so many wonderful Ethiopia lovers. EDTF is barely 16 months since its inception. We started our