Page 47 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 15

Leadership

gratulations from President Biden
for either achievement. Following
the freest, fairest, and most peace-
ful elections in Ethiopia’s history,
U.S. Secretary of State, Antony
Blinken’s only comment was: “the
United States commends those who
exercised their right to vote on June
21.” Unusual for elections in Africa,
not one individual died in Ethiopia’s
voting process. In contrast, several
Americans died during the January
6th, violent protest of the U.S. elec-
toral vote.

Equally astonishing, President Biden Patient voters during the June 21, Ethiopian election
failed to praise the second filling of
almost 14 billion cubic meters of
water in the reservoir of the GERD,
which will lead to production of democracy. fundamental of human rights.
electricity later this year. Following
in the footsteps of former Presi- Shouldn’t “human rights” include Prime Minister Abiy, responded to
dent Trump, the Biden administra- the most fundamental right; the the attacks on the Ethiopian Na-
tion and the Democrat controlled right for human beings to live a tional Defense Force, (November
Congress, have tried to discourage productive and dignified life? How 4, 2020), by the Tigray People’s
Ethiopia from filling the GERD. is that possible when Africans are Liberation Front (TPLF), as a
Despite Ethiopia’s important role suffering from abject poverty, lack leader should. He used the military
in Africa, Prime Minister Abiy’s of food, clean water, and electricity. capability of his nation to defeat the
notable reform movement, and It is not possible. enemy within Ethiopia. Whatever
the success of his Prosperity Party, grievances the TPLF might have
President Biden has never talked to The solution lies in physical eco- had, a violent assault on the govern-
the Prime Minister. nomic development that transforms ment’s military, is an insurrection.
the conditions of life. As the Ethio- Americans have learned that lesson
Secretary of State Blinken along pians are fond of saying: “eliminate afresh on January 6th. Preserving
with several other officials from the poverty, don’t manage it.” Aid is not the sovereign nation-state from a
Obama administration are leading sufficient. Building vital infrastruc- rebel insurgency, is the most su-
President Biden’s global foreign pol- ture is an absolute necessity, not an preme responsibility of a Head of
icy with their mantra: “democracy, option. More than anything else, State. There is no higher “rule of
human rights, and rule of law.” But African nations need electricity—a law,” as President Abraham Lincoln
what do these words mean other thousand gigawatts at least. Africa properly understood.
than a desire to impose their world needs a minimum of 50,000 kilome-
order on other nations. ters of high speed railroads. With U.S.-Africa Policy; Does It Exist?
the billions of dollars in aid given

Prime Minister Abiy’s non-ethnic to African nations, transformative There are several components of
based Prosperity Party won over- infrastructure projects could have U.S. policy towards Africa that
whelmingly in a democratic election been built. Isn’t the right to electrici- undermine Ethiopia’s noteworthy
deemed fair, free of violence and ty a human right? effort to become a self-governing
intimidation, and credible. Ethiopia economically independent nation.
Election: A Vote for Peace, Unity, Then, why hasn’t Ethiopia been
and Prosperity. Millions of Ethio- profusely praised for building the First, the U.S. does not have a long
pians approved of Prime Minister GERD to produce 6,200 megawatts term development policy for Africa.
Abiy’s policies, giving him a mandate (6.2 gigawatts) of electricity. Physical It is willing to spend billions of dol-
to lead for another five years. That is economic development is the most lars on short term aid, but nothing

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