For decades, the relationship between Ethiopians in the U.S. and the government back home has been characterised by mutual antagonism. But Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s visit this month is eagerly anticipated by a community energized by his leadership.

By Arefaynie Fantahun

Ethiopians of all stripes are set to pack out halls in Washington DC and Los Angeles in late July as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed brings his message of unity and reconciliation to the United States.

The meetings on July 28 and 29 held under the theme “demolish the wall, let‘s build the bridge” are an opportunity for the PM to urge Ethiopians to bring their talents home and support development, and democratisation, according to State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Birtukan Ayano. “The trip is organized only to discuss and meet with Ethiopians and only Ethiopians,” she said at a media briefing.

Preparations have been in full swing for weeks with committees in Addis Ababa and Washington DC. Among the organizers of the D.C. event is New Jersey resident, Professor Ephraim Isaac, 81, a retired Harvard scholar and board chairman of the Peace and Development Centre, which seeks solution to problems and conflicts in Ethiopia.

He says that that there has never been a more important time to come together as a united community and Abiy’s visit to bring his message of peace, love and reconciliation is an important step. In a telephone interview, in phrasing reminiscent of Abiy, Ephraim said he was looking forward to hearing his thoughts about maintaining peace and the key issue of reconciliation. “We have to hold each other, love each other. Abiy is showing us how it is done with consideration and compassion. It is the only path towards building together our beloved homeland and fight together against our real enemies: poverty, famine and disease” he said.

Ethiopians, who started arriving as refugees in the early 1980s because of political strife are found all over the U.S. The Washington metropolitan area, Los Angles and the San Francisco Bay Area, are also centres for Ethiopians. Other locations include Minneapolis, Seattle and Atlanta.

Two generations of Ethiopian exiles have settled, shunning the military dictatorship and the subsequent nondemocratic regime. They were lured by dreams of economic success and are watching closely events at home as they try to understand what the future may hold.

With their numbers steadily increasing over decades, the group, many of them politically active, have increasingly played a role in pressuring the US Government policy towards Ethiopia, and financially supporting the opposition. Though the relatively extreme position of some has allowed the government to portray them as divorced from reality, now they are being acknowledged as an important constituency that should be engaged with.

In 2015 the International Organization for Migration estimated around $3.5 billion, or 7 percent of GDP, was remitted by the diaspora, according to Xinhua. The diaspora has also invested and bought government bonds. Abiy is likely to push ahead with his proposal for an autonomous Diaspora Trust Fund, which can be used to support development plans.

With the speed of Abiy’s reform and his message of forgiveness, the hard line dividing the U.S. diaspora and the government seems to be softening. Many are enthusiastic and talking about returning. This is remarkable because as recently as April they were holding rallies in the US, condemning the government and pushing for the U.S. House of Representatives to adopt a resolution sanctioning Ethiopian officials.

There were also campaigns urging people to send money to relatives through informal channels and not to deal with Ethiopian banks, in order to harm the regime. That seems in the distant past now and the visit of Abiy is an opportunity to build bridges that will overcome bitterness.

    With one stroke Abiy has managed to dissolve the sense of disunity

Tebabu Assefa, owner of Blessed Coffee at Takoma Park near Maryland is thrilled that Abiy is coming, as he represents a paradigm shift. “Ethiopia has been divided, disintegrated. Ethiopian identity has been lost, and its people set against each other. With one stroke Abiy has managed to dissolve the sense of disunity. He has put vision in place, which has been at the heart of many Ethiopians, that of oneness, healing and reconciliation and inclusion.”

“His reform agenda, his reconciliation message, tolerance, unity, these are missing elements in Ethiopian and African politics. Abiy is a visionary leader unifying the country. He is the force of unity beyond Ethiopia. He has understood unity is the only way out,” he says.

Shakespear N. Feyissa, the principal partner at his own Seattle-based law firm, says Abiy’s positive message resonates across religion, ethnicity, age, gender, and even political opinion. “This is a phenomena for the Diaspora community which is often defragmented and divided in many ways. The PM’s message has and continue to have a uniting effect on almost every single member of our community.”

Some are more circumspect, like Dinberu Melakehiwot, Managing Director of Adulis Enterprise, a multilingual communication service based in Silverspring, as the Prime Minister has only been in officer for a little over three months. Although he does sense an excitement among the community that he’s not experienced for three decades. “I expect the Prime Minister will have an open and candid discussion with the Diaspora so much so that, we will feel to be part of the solution. I also strongly believe this meeting will help further strengthen the unity among the various ethnic and social groups in and outside Ethiopia and also help the struggle for true democracy in our homeland Ethiopia. “

“After 27 years of repression and ethnic divisive politics, we are now hearing Ethiopia and Ethiopianism being held up high in the agenda. I understand it is not going to be an easy walk and not all will be singing Kumbaya. It takes time,” he says.

    There needs to be ways through which Ethiopian-born American citizens can get Ethiopian nationality

Yetnayet Zewdie Demissie, a trade policy lawyer and partner at Zerihun Assocates, is realistic: “I am extremely enthusiastic about Dr. Abiy’s reform agenda. However, I am also aware that it is going to take a while to bring Ethiopia on the right track, both politically and economically. Dr. Abiy and his team cannot do it alone. We all have to be agents of change as well and push for better governance. We all have to work towards achieving the same vision- a better Ethiopia for the future generation.”

Yetnayet, who has lived in Washington DC area since 2010, said there is a lot of enthusiasm among young professionals. “I hope his team is thinking of ways it can accept volunteers from the Diaspora that can come serve their country in their areas of expertise; I know I will be first in line.”

In the discussion with Abiy, several points are likely to be raised such as the need to improve consular services in Washington DC and the embassy being more accessible with better services, such as facilitating voting, according to Yetnayet. “There needs to be ways through which Ethiopian-born American citizens can get Ethiopian nationality and open more doors for investment in areas that have so far been closed off to non-Ethiopian nationals,” she adds.

Ethiopian exiles in the U.S. seem to mostly be taking comfort in Abiy’s unifying spirit and his promise to end divisions. With this meeting, many are hoping that policy of re-engagement with the diaspora would gather momentum, and some are even talking of a mass repatriation. “If the country is peaceful, safe, and everyone is treated fairly and equally, I believe the vast majority of Ethiopians will return,” says Shakespear.

(Main image: prime minister Abiy Ahmed attends a rally during his visit to Ambo  April 11, 2018. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri.)

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