Medemer is a covenant of peace that seeks unity in our common humanity. It pursues peace by practicing the values of love, forgiveness, reconciliation, and inclusion. It takes a few to make war, but it takes a village and a nation to build peace. For me, nurturing peace is like planting and growing trees. Just like trees…
Veni, vidi, vici – I came, I saw, I conquered. Legend has it, Julius Caesar, following his quick victory – five days- at the Battle of Zela in 47 BC, informed the Roman Senate, “Veni, vidi, vici.” “I came. I saw. I conquered.” Caesar conquered by the sword! In mid-December 2022, Abiy Ahmed came to…
Antony Blinken US Secretary of State Washington, DC Sir: The Immigration and Nationality Act § 219 (Title 8, CHAPTER 12 SUBCHAPTER II Part II § 1189; 8 U.S. Code § 1189 – Designation of foreign terrorist organizations) authorizes the Secretary of State to designate an organization a “foreign terrorist organization” by making a finding that…
We wanted to dismantle their network of corruption [in city government]. We tried to move corrupt officials out of their positions and reshuffle them. The court would not allow us. They ordered us to return them to their positions. All 460 of them. Adanech Abibie, Mayor of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Author’s Note: While this commentary…
Author’s Note: While this commentary stands on its own merits, the author strongly recommends reading Part I of the series to appreciate the enormous complexity and fierce urgency of judicial/justice sector reform in Ethiopia today. Judicial/justice sector reform is an integral element of Ethiopia’s Homegrown Reform Agenda Ethiopia has been undergoing massive reform over the…
The Fierce Urgency of Now. We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history there is such a thing as being too late. Procrastination is still the thief of time. Over the bleached bones and jumbled…
Let me make it crystal clear! I am a gung-ho supporter of the Permanent Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (“Agreement”) between the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front signed on November 2, 2022 and the Declaration of the Senior Commanders (“Declaration”) on the Modalities for the Implementation Through a Permanent Cessation of Hostilities…
Author’s Note: Since 2007, I have written anniversary memorial messages in remembrance and in honor of victims of TPLF massacres and wanton violence in Ethiopia. In my first memorial tribute, “Remember, the Ethiopian Martyrs of June and November, 2005 Forever!”, I reminded my readers that it our moral duty “to bear witness for the dead…
Author’s Note: Since 2007, I have written anniversary memorial messages in remembrance and in honor of victims of TPLF massacres and wanton violence in Ethiopia. In my first memorial tribute, “Remember, the Ethiopian Martyrs of June and November, 2005 Forever!”, I reminded my readers that it our moral duty “to bear witness for the dead…
COMMEMORATING NOVEMBER 4, 2020, SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE VICIOUS ATTACK ON THE ETHIOPIAN NORTHERN COMMAND IN TIGRAY REGION. DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF HEROIC ETHIOPIAN NATIONAL DEFENSE FORCE MEMBERS, AMHARA AND AFAR SPECIAL FORCES AND MILITIA AND FANO WARRIORS WHO FOUGHT AND DIED AND LIVED TO BRING PEACE TO ETHIOPIA; TO THE INNOCENT VICTIMS OF…
