Abiy Ahmed is the huge Millenium Hall in Addis Ababa, on a loft, 20’000 jubilant Ethiopians, waving to him and shouting, as if he was the Messiah. The words of the new Ethiopian Prime Minister selects, it must be said, not so far away: “forgiveness liberates the Conscience. If we say that we have reconciled, we believe that we have embarked upon the path of forgiveness and love.” The people cheering. In addition to Abiy a man is will say that of the many later, he had to smile at this Moment, for the first Time again since many years.
The Ethiopian government, the chief takes the Hand of Isaias Afewerki, President of Eritrea, and keeps you in the height: It is a historic Moment in the world history, the world will notice, but only to a very limited extent on that day in July.
A healthy Form of populism
Ethiopia and Eritrea were gone as mortal enemies in the year 2018. And little indication that they would end it differently. Your war claimed between 1998 and 2000, up to 80’000 people. Battles have flared up since then. It was a desert patch, Pride and access to the sea. Now Abiy and Isaias are in the large hall of Addis Ababa, and hold hands. It is a miracle that remained beyond East Africa, therefore, almost unnoticed, because of the peace fell to an end with the final of the football world Cup. So slowly but have noticed other parts of the world that something is happening in the Horn of Africa.
There, Abiy Ahmed shows that there is also a healthy Form of populism. He does all of what the majority of people for years. Abiy has released thousands of political prisoners, he has concluded peace with Eritrea and starts to make a previously authoritarian and corruption trending Regime on the head. Not a day goes by without a revolutionary act, he can be a woman President to appoint designated members of the opposition Ministers and former opponents of the regime high judge. It has a Dreamlike quality.
Once a man of the regime, now a Reformer: Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia. Photo: Keystone
Ethiopia belonged to for some, even before the Abiy to the countries in Africa that have at least a Plan for their future. About 100 million people live there, more than 80 groups in the population. The most important positions in politics and business had occupied in the past few years, in most cases, representatives of the Tigray, but only six percent of the population. The Tigray self right justified with the fight for freedom, with the Victims in the fight against the Communist dictatorship that was defeated in 1991. Since then a unity ruled front, the tried the for making a statement at a whim with little to no Opposition, and to copy the Chinese model. There were huge investments in the infrastructure, industrial parks were built, and the state apartments built.
The reforms of Abiy Ahmed are radically
What is increased also, was the corruption. And as a Non-Tigray, you barely had a Chance at the few Jobs . Especially in the Oromia Region, the largest population group lives, it came for several years to mass demonstrations. Abiy Ahmed, 42, initially, a man of the unit front and the intelligence officers, was one of their leaders. The Regime responded with violence and repression, and none of it helped, there was finally, after and appointed Abiy in April as the new Prime Minister, the first Oromo to the top. In the book shops in Addis Ababa, the works are stacked about the new hope, quite successfully, with the title “Moses”, which draws Parallels to the prophet.
Abiys reforms have somewhat Radical, it is hardly hesitated at first, not tactics. He has many of the old power commander in the army and the security apparatus or dismissed, he wants to be the powerful company Metec to the collar, which belongs to the military, and many large-scale projects will be involved, often with the consequences of management and corruption For many, the old Regime was a functioning business model, they are presumed to be behind a bomb attack on Abiy.
millions of people are waiting for jobs
a Few months later, hundreds of soldiers stormed the official residence of the Prime Minister, allegedly, to demonstrate for higher wages. Abiy received them with a smile, and made with them pushups. Later, he told me that he did, in fact, feared for his life. Ethiopia will continue to be pursued by the same unit front, Abiy belongs to only one of the four ruling parties. He wants to reform the System from the inside and apologized for the torture and murders of the last 20 years, of a legal fight, the speech was but little.
the most pressing priority for the topic of the creation of new jobs. Millions of people have worn Abiy into the office, waiting for a Living. Ethiopia had invested a lot in recent years in new universities, whose graduates are now on the street or waiters. The gross national product grew, often by double digits, the country belonged to the world top. Has not passed it so far.
It heralds a new times: people in Addis Ababa await the visit of the Eritrean dictator Isaias Afewerki. Photo: AFP
Abiy is now looking for investors from abroad want to open the state-owned telecommunications company and the airline Ethiopian Airlines for investors. The airline has eight your business in the past seven years, tripled and flies to more than 100 international destinations. At the end of October Abiy flew with one of their machines to Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel received an investors summit. There were Commitments, but not so many are as necessary to the many Dissatisfied satisfied.
Abiy Ahmed wants to in the Reform of Islam
to help European and especially German companies are hesitant to make business in Africa. Sometimes the economic perspective might be missing and sometimes the courage. Europe was very good to explain to Africa how it needs to change. Now, because of the change in Ethiopia is because, white is not right, how you can support him.
Abiy sets his hopes tend to be more on the Arab Peninsula. Some Gulf States have promised billions. Abiy has offered modest as he is, in return, to help in the Reform of Islam. “You have lost the Religion,” he said to the crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates. “Islam is not the true Islam. You have forgotten, what is Forgiveness and peace.” (Tages-Anzeiger)
Created: 02.01.2019, 16:52 PM
