FDRE Prime minister Ato Hailemariam Desalegn went to Uganda and held a meeting that focused on peace, security, trade and investment between the two countries. At their meeting, they have agreed to start the work on the construction of a road that would connect the northeastern Uganda city ‘Karamodja’ to South Ethiopia through north Kenya. Side by side to this, South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mardiat reached agreement on various political, social and econoDesta Hailu
mic and related security issues in the three day official visit he had in our country.
What these two recent developments show us is that our country (like in previous times) is creating strong diplomatic ties with countries that are in the East Africa region. As it’s known, the East Africa region didn’t get any diplomatic benefit from ties with each other in many years. And the reason for this is the long years running war that took place in the region.
As this history of war has stopped in relative terms in current times, the countries of the region are planning to enjoy the benefits that come from comprehensive diplomatic ties with each other. The agreements I mentioned in the introduction of the article can be an illustration for this. And it is obvious that this emanates from the peace our country enjoys.
As any reader of this article understands, our country has lived through civil war and deep rooted poverty like the other African countries – during previous regimes. But, thanks be to the FDRE government and to the children of the people who sacrificed their lives to realize the system it follows, the new Ethiopia is changing its former image which was associated with bad paradigm. Through the wide ranging works the government and people integratively undertook, our country is now enjoying from the relative peace of the region.
It is been a while now since Ethiopia started to be seen through new and positive light by others. As a result to this, the country’s acceptance has increased in regional and international diplomatic arenas. As its diplomatic clout is attracting countries of the region and the continent to it, today the number of African leaders that come to Addis Ababa for counsel and to share experience is increasing. For this success, the diplomatic directives that are on the FDRE constitution takes the lion share for this. The constitution motivates neighboring and regional countries to work together for mutual interest and peace, and diplomacy based common interest. The constitution has also played its role in protecting our national interest and guaranteeing our country’s existence.
Of course the relation Ethiopia can have with any country is based on basic national interest and takes into account the fact that when the development and democratic process takes root and the growth process hastens, our vulnerability will hugely reduce. The diplomacy, which is based on thorough study, adheres to a path that reduces threats and a path that looks at negotiation to resolve regional conflicts.
I think this situation has led to the successful implementation of the country’s regional diplomatic relation it follows. However, in order to protect against terrorist groups that operate in the region like Al-Shabaab, to mitigate the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan and stop the meddling approach of some of the region countries and stop the negative interferences like the Eritrean regime do in the region, the regional countries should tie themselves up in a strong diplomatic bond. And the bond should focus on equal benefit.
The diplomatic bond or tie should focus only on the benefit of the regional people. The people of East Africa is in one way or the other has close relationship of culture, history and living together among themselves to the point of considering each other as their second home. Therefore, the regional countries should further build upon this through modern diplomatic relations. For this, they are expected to implement the agreements they reach with each other.
In this respect, Ethiopia should play its leadership role appropriately by building upon the experiences it gained for the past 26 years. Of course our country should not only play a role in resolving conflicts and controversies in peaceful manner so that the region have stable political process, but it also should play a leading role in building upon the region’s peace and member states’ collaboration with diplomacy. And the collaboration and peace principles our country adheres to will help in this regard.
Truth be told, Ethiopia doesn’t adhere to an approach where it labels neighboring or other countries as its enemy. By coordinating its people on its number one enemy, the country has become an example and benchmark of rapid development for the region and the continent. However, in order continue strongly with its economic growth and benefit its neighboring countries, it needs a strong regional collaborative and diplomatic tie.
In the 21st century we are living in, nothing can stay the same. As it is an era of globalization we live in, we need to be working even with those people that are far away let alone with neighboring and close by countries. In this day and age, where the world is becoming a single village, it is through diplomatic relationship that investors from thousands miles away come to the region’s countries to invest. And as we can obtain what we don’t have ourselves from the investors, we should work closely for mutual benefit.
If a country plans or wants to think long term in initiating mutual benefit through diplomatic ties, there is nothing hindering that country from establishing diplomatic ties with the regional countries. However, the ties should be carefully established and should have priority role. There is no point in messing it up from the get go. Thus, by planning ahead and setting up a long term plan based on thorough information, we should strengthen the diplomatic tie. For this, we should strengthen our implementation capability.
Of course the basis to do all this is manpower. A manpower that is capable of implementing should gain the input the diplomatic world demands. A country that doesn’t have a manpower that is endowed with the diplomatic knowledge and skill cannot undertake its diplomatic ties capably.
Thus, a country should produce diplomats that are comprehensively capable. In this regard, I believe the 94 diplomats Ethiopia graduated in second degree recently will have a huge role in strengthening the diplomatic ties of our country and to undertake the national mission given to them by the government.
Like yesterday, Ethiopia will carry out its role of amplifying Africa’s voice in the international stage by representing the region and the continent. Although Ethiopia is a country that gives priority for its internal affairs, its economic growth cannot be seen separately from its neighbors’ peace and stability. Thus, I say that the country should be working to strengthen its diplomatic ties with the regional countries no less than the attention it gives for its internal matter.