Ethiopia Defeated Colonialists Once Again
It’s the beginning of the end of Western-hegemony
The war that has been waged against Ethiopia by neo-colonists is not like ones encountered before. It is multifaceted, congruent, and coordinated on several fronts, employing every possible way to enact regime change with the anticipation of complete disarray, and a civil war that proceeded to create a complete collapse.
It also set an unprecedented level of convergence between neocolonial powers, which were otherwise known to pursue unreconciled stances on several spheres. The inexplicability of this unholy alliance between these groups remains to be a mystery and a puzzle for many. Moreover, what exactly Ethiopia has done to deserve such a level of hostility and conspiracy makes the puzzle even worse deep in the cynics.
Despite the peace-loving attitude that the Ethiopian people and their leaders are known for, the national history, unmistakably, is defined as a history of war and unrest. Perhaps the strategic location of the country and its endowed water and other resources might be major reasons for these foreign aggressions. The country has also gone through several internal conflicts in asserting power in the process of state formation.
The paradox is, though, there has never been a single occasion where Ethiopia has neither provoked nor acted belligerently against foreign invaders. Instead, Ethiopia, in spite of all these hostilities which jeopardized its stability, chose to stick with the principles of collective security and self-defense. It has always advocated for a global solution to peace and justice.
Ethiopia stood on the right side of history during the first and the second world wars. It supported freedom fighters and fought for the abolition of slavery and colonization. To this effect, Ethiopia was one of the dear members of the League of Nations, a founding member of the United Nations, a nation that championed the birth of the African Union and also played a key role in the non-aligned movement.
Ethiopia remains an independent and non-colonized nation and has played an indispensable role in the fight against colonialism, standing along fellow Africans during the struggle for freedom. If it were not for the free land in Ethiopia, African fighters could not have taken refuge anywhere in pursuing their liberation struggle. Thus, it not only remains to be an icon of freedom and endurance but also contributed an all-time far-reaching pan Africanism spirit that inspires all Blacks within and beyond the African continent.
As I write this article, the war at the military front hits its last chapter while the situation continues in the psychological warfare and diplomatic arenas as well as economic sabotages and sanctions. Western media is continuing to air false narratives and erroneous facts about the country, though in light of the progress at the battlefield, I am certain that these media will soon run out of stories as their single supplier, the TPLF, will soon turn mute.
Given their determination to break the country down, I wouldn’t be surprised if Western media themselves take over the role and produce the script and run the play at the same time. Sadly, many in the audience fell in their trap and have become victims of the fake stories, and made regretful, ill-informed decisions that have caused a lot of damage to the country and the tens of millions of innocent citizens.
Who would judge those Ethiopians who have developed an unforgiving attitude towards Western media because they are deeply hurt by the consistent lies and fake news coverage orchestrated by a number of them? Because they manufacture unprecedented amounts of fake news and did everything to intentionally misinform their global audiences, they have left enough “bad taste in the mouths” of Ethiopians.
It is also worth noting that such coordinated, hostile action is not without reaction and repercussions. In fact, the injustice against the country bounced in a significant way and caused an all-round fierce reaction across Africa.
The movement rose to a level where the youth in Niger, Mali, Sudan, Kenya, Tunisia, South Africa, and Jamaica were already out in the streets chanting the slogans and echoing “Hands-off Ethiopia, #NoMore!,” which has now culminated to become an international phenomenon, with zealous power that is galvanizing substantive support for the anti-neocolonial movement.
Thus, it is no longer about Ethiopia and Eritrea; it is rather about hundreds of millions of Black people around the world. The war against Ethiopia is a face of the resistance movement that just set the fire but with enormous potential to burn oppressors’ fingers everywhere where similar injustice prevails.
Arguably, its potential to shake the already fading hegemony is imminent as it appears at the right time when global political tension has reached its peak. A recent move by European countries contemplating their NATO engagement following the incident in Afghanistan, the Chinese decision to dramatically expand duty-free privileges for African agriculture products under the Belt and Road Initiative with the bid of expanding the Africa-China trade regime to an historic USD300 billion over the next three years, the G7 countries’ resolution that transpired during the recent meeting held in the UK, and calls for recognizing the roles of the state in the economic development are some of the actions, among others, that plummet the neo-colonialist ideology that inherently denies society and its values and pronounces individualism and market. This suggests nothing but the beginning of the end of Western hegemony.
Obviously, Ethiopia will soon defeat TPLF, the Western block’s implanted agent in the horn of Africa. Despite all-around support they provided to this group, TPLF has completely lost the war after unimaginable human casualties as a result of its human-wave war strategy.
Needless to mention the level of catastrophe the innocent citizens living in the war regions, including Tigray, have faced. It’s expected that the terrorist leaders and their operatives will be brought to justice sooner or later, and be held accountable for all the tragedies they have committed. Ethiopians everywhere, however, should continue to work hard and detoxify the resonated false narratives, bring back life in the war-torn areas, and fast action responses to restore confidence to those going through pain and agony.
Of course, these actions should be followed by aggressive all-rounded social and economic rehabilitation efforts that should start immediately in areas where people reconvene to their places. The citizens who were betrayed by their compatriots and denied their right of existence are in desperate need of being met with the basic needs for themselves and their families.
Reinstating their livelihood should not take any more time; it should overlap the offensive action of the war. These may include, among others, ensuring food and shelter, running water, extending health services and schools, supplies for agricultural operations, reinstating power and telephone services, and restoring banking, finance, and market infrastructures.
Ethiopians should also take this challenge as an opportunity and turn it to an historical advantage to wane dependence on handouts and aid, especially from Western countries, and rehabilitate their economy in a different manner.
Ethiopia shall never forget its patriots who sacrificed their precious life to enable the rest of us to live safely and with uncompromised freedom. Though it is instinct wisdom for Ethiopians—how precious and demanding freedom is—this very incident helps reiterate the same and consolidate solidarity and unity, especially among the new generation who for decades have been brainwashed by TPLF propaganda propagating ethnic divisions as opposed to promoting national unity.
The rehabilitation effort needs pinning down a doubling of efforts, with due focus and priority for the comforting of martyr families and the militia forces who marched to the battle leaving behind their families with no earnings and compensation.
Ethiopia should also take this opportunity and securitize its foreign relations. This incident unfolded a new reality that potentially altered the order of importance. As many new enemies and foes emerged, Ethiopia also made new friends during this trying time. The unconditional and unwavering support that Ethiopia indulged has been second to none for its victory and overcoming of the situation.
We Ethiopians are indebted to these friendly countries and though few, international institutions who stood by us and have become a voice for us when badly needed. Our special thanks goes to Eritrea, Kenya, Djibouti, South Sudan, Somalia, and the African Union from the region as well as Russia, China, India, and Turkey who, at every forum being held to discuss the matter, unequivocally told biased Westerners the truth: that Ethiopia is capable of finding a solution for its domestic challenges.
In conclusion, let us seize this opportunity and turn our country around for the better. We should remain vigilant and steadfast during this trying time. Winning this war is not an option. The option in hand is rather making this victory all rounded and making poverty history.
As we are all on the war against terrorists together, it is compelling to address the root cause that made us vulnerable to all kinds of meddling. We should repeat the victory on this front too and confirm that our fate is in our hands.
10th Year • Jan 2022 • No. 103