Obama’s Visit to Ethiopia Sends the Wrong Message on Democracy

By Washington Post (Editorial), “AFRICA DOESN’T need strongmen, it needs strong institutions.” Those were President Obama’s words when he addressed Ghana’s parliament in July 2009, during his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa as president. The historic speech, watched around the globe, was an optimistic clarion call to the leaders on the continent from the son […]

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Wendy Sherman’s Response to The Washington Post Editorial

By Wendy Sherman, ETHIOPIA is a valuable partner in a critical region, from peacekeeping to fighting al-Shabab to pursuing peace in South Sudan. Ethiopia, among the world’s fastest-growing economies, has made significant progress toward its Millennium Development Goals. But stability, security and economic development are sustainable only with the development of democratic values. Ethiopia has […]

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Obama Nominates Gayle Smith as USAID Chief

By Mohamed Keita, PRESIDENT Obama’s decision to tap top White House aide Gayle Smith to take over the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has drawn plaudits, but also serious concerns from some long-time Africa watchers about the role of American assistance in abetting repression on the continent. The New York Times described Smith as […]

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Washington Post Denounces Wendy Sherman’s Irresponsible Praise of Ethiopia’s Regime

By Washington Post (Editorial), ETHIOPIA’S election scheduled for May 24, are shaping up to be anything but democratic. A country that has often been held up as a poster child for development has been stifling civic freedoms and systematically cracking down on independent journalism for several years. It was consequently startling to hear the State […]

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U.S. Urges Ethiopia to Stop Using Anti-Terrorism Laws to Curb Freedom of Expression

By Marie Harf (Acting Spokesperson), U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesperson Washington, D.C. April 24, 2015 APRIL 25 marks one year since Ethiopia arrested six Zone 9 bloggers and three other journalists. These nine individuals—Befekadu Hailu, Zelalem Kibret, Atnaf Berhane, Natnael Feleke, Mahlet Fantahun, Abel Wabella, Asmamaw Hailegiorgis, Edom Kassaye, and Tesfalem Waldeyes—joined […]

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