Imperialism in humanitarian, security cloak

BY WORKU BELACHEW

The pretext of humanitarianism is often raised by the officials of the Biden administration to justify their unwarranted pressure against Ethiopia.

Biden’s September 17, 2021, executive order is one in a series of instruments that are sugarcoated with humanitarianism and the protection of US national security. The latter in particular begs the question; the preamble of the executive order says that the conflict poses: “extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.”

The situation in Ethiopia is purely an internal matter— also as some permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) at various times make it crystal clear. But the question is: why has the Biden administration remained stubborn not to treat the issue as an internal matter to Ethiopia?

In this writer’s assessment to understand the matter, among the chief reasons that are making the Biden administration bog down in a policy that is against the 100+ million people of Ethiopia and at the cost the centuries’ old Ethiopia-US relations can be his and his advisors’ far-fetched ambition to impose their imperialistic will on a sovereign state, and later to expand the practice on a continental level in Africa.

Available literature shows that there are various arguments as to how powers such as the US advance their imperialistic ambitions either subtly or forcibly. But in our case, two of them seem to hold water. Actually, one of the arguments is premised on “moral ground”. This one looks like a resurgence of a subject that was put to play to justify colonialism in Africa in the late 19th C-early 20C. The colonial powers marched to Africa in the fig leaf of “Christianizing” and “Civilizing” the people of Africa.

At this very time, the Biden administration and its western allies are fabricating stories after stories through their agents that work under the cloak of humanitarianism. In today’s world, by and large, imperialism is reviving being encapsulated with humanitarianism—as many would agree. At face value, the sympathy the Biden administration shows to some people in Ethiopia appears to have sort of humanitarian element but the ultimate goal is to advance its illegitimate interests in a seemingly legitimate way.

In Ethiopia, the lives of close to seven million people is affected in all states of Tigray, Amhara and Afar, but the Biden administration and his allies are lax on demonstrating sympathy to the people of Amhara and Afar. This speaks for itself, doesn’t it?

The second track that the US and its allies employ to advance imperialism can be analyzed through the prism of “the protection of national interests in faraway geo-strategic places”.

What we have witnessed thus far is that the US and its allies choose short-sighted approaches than sustainable ones. Regarding the former, the powers have opted for supporting client states to remain on the helm of government or resorted to giving every life-support even to a dying group that advances their interests. As far as the client states are protecting the interests of, say the US and its allies, they keep lubricating the state machinery with aids and donations, and whether or not human rights abuses are rampant, corruption deepens media freedom stifled, they just don’t care. In the words of late Ghanaian President Kwame Nkrumah this is the worst form of imperialism “power without responsibility”— neo-colonialism if you like.

Now that the frontiers of superpowers are expanding beyond their terrestrial and aquatic boundaries, the Horn of Africa has already become a hub for their military buildup in faraway geo-strategic locations— a matter with a visible threat to the sovereignty of countries of the region in particular and the entire continent in general.

It is now plausible to argue that the military buildup in the region must be checked and countered in some way to avert the imminent danger. A November 12, 2021, BBC report first headlined as US Force Ready ‘to respond’ to Ethiopia crisis quoting Maj. Gen. William Zana at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti furnishes enough reason as the US has the ambition to promote its interests against the wills of the millions of people and their sovereignty.

The Biden administration, its allies and the western media altogether are supplying political, diplomatic and other key supports to the rebel terrorist TPLF force, on one hand. And they publicly brag to militarily intervene in a UN member country, Ethiopia, on the other. Humanitarianism and the protection of security or whatever interests are now found to be sugarcoated pretexts; inside these are the bitter imperialistic ambitions that Africans should check sooner than later.

Africans, the black population all over the world and all who seek justice, equality and fraternity to prevail must closely look into the current situation in Ethiopia. The current model—i.e., trying to destroy a legitimate government by force using an internal rebel is likely to be exported to other African countries. The necessary condition for this is, as we are practically witnessing it here, determination to chart out one’s destiny by oneself. When any African country starts to develop its natural resources, formulate home-grown policies, then the model would be put to play.

The model is worse in its entirety. But it becomes worst for Ethiopia as a country that boasts for having the oldest democracy like the US is attempting to restore a group chased away by popular unrest.

The people of Ethiopia have elected their representatives marching in droves to polls which the US’s two institutions verified.

The International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) on their joint report on the June 21, 2021 as part of a Limited Election Observation Mission for Ethiopia released on August 9, 2021 indicated this very matter.

For instance, NDI President Derek Mitchell said there were important improvements over past elections, particularly relating to the national election body and election monitoring by political parties and civil society.

The report also acclaimed “reforms that allowed civil society and political parties to emerge as actors of the electoral process. It also noted the reforms that allowed for NEBE to be more independent as well as important positive efforts made by Ethiopian individuals and institutions, including NEBE, citizen election monitoring, and voter education groups.”

Obviously, this does not mean that Ethiopia conducted one of the rarest elections. But the improvement has been tremendous as compared to the previous ones.

As every cloud has a silver lining, the approach by the US and its allies towards the current situation in Ethiopia holds important lesson to all people of Africa, the black community on the globe and all justice-seeking people of the world. The attempt is like a knockout game where these forces want to mess up the lives of non-western people and protect what they call “their national interests” at the cost of millions of people, particularly in the developing world. It is high time to all who stand for justice to prevail to stop these devilish forces.

The current path of the Biden administration and its allies is totally against the interests of the people of the respective countries. It is a path of destroying centuries-old cooperation. Of course, there is no proof that the entire people in the west back such imperialistic policy that exposes millions of souls to death and destruction. But there is proof that a substantial number of western people stand for truth and justice. One can see the number of black and white people of citizens in the western countries that are supporting Ethiopia by publically defending the Ethiopian cause. This has also been evident in the past. While the fascist Italian aggressor invaded Ethiopia, good people like Sylvia Pankhurst were standing for truth. Sylvia also went as far as establishing a newspaper dedicated to revealing the truth in her New times & Ethiopia news.

Published in The ETHIOPIAN HERALD NOVEMBER 30/2021

 

Adwa AU’s big task ahead to relight forebears’ spirits

 The African Union (AU) has the responsibility of taking a measure to uphold and hand down the spirits of the victory of Adwa, says pan-African experts and scholars alike as Ethiopia is set to mark the 124th Victory of Adwa on Monday.

The victory that is a landslide black people’s achievement had sent an enduring message to all the oppressed on the fact that the myth of European superiority was able to defeated; hence, the experts and scholars say the continental organization should no longer ignore this remarkable heritage.
Ayele Bekerie is an Associate Professor and Coordinator of a Ph.D. Program in Heritage Studies at Mekelle University. He argues that the Victory of Adwa goes way beyond Ethiopia.
“The victory is not limited to an outcome of a battle between two warring countries. The central message of the victory at the Battle of Adwa is that colonialism was wrong, and under any circumstance, it cannot be acceptable.”
The victory at Adwa provided the spark for fellow African brothers and sisters to determinedly fight against colonial subjugation, he says.
“It is true that the end of colonialism was in Africa and the historic contribution of Ethiopia had been marked by establishing the headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. While the gesture was significant, I would argue that AU should take another critical step by declaring Yekatit 23^rd as African day.”
 The continental bloc looks like to turn its heads to glorify the history of the continent, particularly in recent years.
The Union has put up the statues of the founding fathers—of the precursor of AU, the Organization of African Unity (OAU). The Ghanaian independent leader Kwame Nkrumah and Ethiopia’s last Emperor Haile Selassie’s statues have now been gracing the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa. There is also Julius Nyerere Peace and Security Building which was funded by the government of the Federal Republic of Germany on the premises of AU.
But the victory of Adwa which is said to have inspired the founding fathers themselves, and an event that dismantled the myth of African inferiority for good, has not got its deserved place at the continental bloc.MORE ON https://www.press.et/english/?p=19543#

 

 

A speech tailored to the size of Horn

22 Jun 2018

Editorial-View-Point 

BY WORKU BELACHEW 

Last Monday’s afternoon was so unique and yet historic for most Ethiopians, both home and abroad. But it may not put anyone on a hasty generalization if he/she concludes as the Day has also brought to light new generation of pan-African statesman in an Ethiopian soil, notable as the embalm of PanAfricanism.
No doubt, this piece is all about Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Amhed’s vibrant speech, if not lecture, televised to the people of Ethiopia.
What could strike the mind of viewers/listeners, and may lead them to include the premier in the list of pan-African statesmen is not only the writer’s perception of the Dr.Abiy’s argument while addressing questions from Members of the House of Peoples’ Representatives.
It is also his way of addressing the question regarding the issue of Bademe, to single out, a border town between Ethiopia and Eritrea. History has already recorded the place as, may be, the immediate cause of the senseless war between the two brotherly peoples which took the lives of tens of thousands of productive citizens of both sides.

The demarcation in East Africa is artificial that was imposed by the Whiteman which resulted in the split of people tied by blood, culture, religion and language into two or more, as he said it.
He mentioned the Kunama people that the colonial lines forced them to be in two different sovereign states, Ethiopia and Eritrea. Also, the Afari people to live in three countries— Ethiopia, Djibouti and Eritrea while some section of the Oromo people to be Kenyan by citizenship.
To the contrary, Bismarck’s’ partition of Africa project forced people of different language, culture and religion to be assembled under the same flag, sadly in an exploitative way.
As most independent leaders of Africa already argued, the borders of Africa are nothing other than colonial inheritance, therefore.
The question presented to the premier was that EPRDF’s unconditional acceptance of the Algiers Agreement on the Ethio-Eritrean would go against the interest of people living in the area. There is no dispute with the assertion if it goes in a way one would gain while the other loose, I believe.
The premier’s response to the question, however, did not focus simply on delimitation and demarcation. He takes it to something bigger cause, and explained it being outside the box—Horn economic integration. Most expected him to say this and that approaching it in a narrower context. But his response was even tailored to the size of Horn of Africa.
Ethiopia is playing a lead-goose role to attain the sub-regional integration arrangement of the African Union. The 3.4 billion USD railways, connecting Ethiopia and Djibouti, is adequate example in this regard. But if more examples have to be cited, the roads to Djibouti, Kenya, and Sudan are mentionable, not to mention the energy interconnection with the said countries.
‘So, what has this to do with the Agreement?’ seems to be a question at this juncture. Any sane mind could get the fathom of the investment in the infrastructure. The projects serve no purpose other than supporting the Somali and Afari people living in Ethiopia and Djibouti to craft their future together or just it calms the water for them to swim together. To the south, Kenyan brothers and sisters can trade among others, and the like.
Ethiopians and Eritreans not only living in the border town but also people of both countries living in remote south Ethiopia and far north Eritrea can have opportunity to know one another.
Besides, the African Union vision 2063 is: “An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in international arena.”
Its people are the architects of this vision. The attainment of the vision as well rests on the shoulders of Regional Economic Communities in which Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is one.
Therefore, putting the Ethio-Eritrean cause in a narrower context- demarcation and delimitation is unable to see the bigger picture.
People of Ethiopia and Eritrea, who are tied by blood, cannot be reduced to border issue, and the past bad event was just something that the present and future generation should take lesson from it. As the premier said it precisely it is unwise to pass down enmity to present and future generations.
The two peoples need one another but not for the sake of economic interest only—sea outlet and market for instance. This is secondary. But, the main objective is long-term peace and breaking the stalemate that has been wasting the human capital of both countries. It also shows both countries’ determination to abort the time bomb the colonial power buried.
Above all, it promises the reunification of families break apart due to the reign of “no peace, no war” over the last decade.
Indeed, the two countries have prospects of economic integration. The hundred and plus million people could offer market opportunity to Eritrea’s manufacturing firms. Similarly, Port Assab could offer Ethiopia with additional sea outlet.
That’s why the premier could be seen as new generation of pan-African statesmen. Pan-Africanism is still relevant in the sense that it could abolish the colonial boarders and serve the interest of the billion people of the region. And this was the line of argument of the premier.
Peace and harmony between the two countries is not the issue of Ethiopia and Eritrea. It goes far beyond this for it has impact on the wider Horn. Thus, such far-sighted decision which the Executive of EPRDF passed has greater significance.
The Eritrean government has reciprocated the peace call and has vowed to send a delegation soon to give a final blow to the issue—most hopefully a panAfrican solution.

 

Invaluable religious mosaic 
Worku Belachew 

                     

Ethiopia has been the hallmark of inter-religious harmony. It is an all-too common and age-old phenomenon to observe adherents of Christianity, Islam, Judaism and other local religions leading peaceful life together.

In recognition to this and to take inspiration from Ethiopia’s backlog of experiences, the annual World Interfaith Harmony Week was marked in Addis—for the first time outside of the UN Headquarters. The annual marking falls on the first week of every February. 

On the event last Friday, the Inter-religious Council of Ethiopia (Council) received award from United Religious Initiative-Africa for promoting tolerance peace and co-existence among the people.

Both the event and the award have conveyed clear and succinct messages to any observer as to the steadfast position of Ethiopians in nurturing religious peace and harmony. It speaks for itself the fact that cynical ambitions of individuals and groups cannot and will not take roots in this land.

Giving less regard to religious differences, Ethiopians have been interacting among themselves in various social platforms. As such, the people have not been precluded from socializing; be it intermarriage, neighborhood, friendship, and the like due to variations in their world views. 

Put this very fact another way, Idir is one of the typical and traditional community associations in most places in Ethiopia.  Members of this community association cooperate particularly in times of funeral. Members comfort family of a deceased, provide monetary support and extend helping hands before, on and after the funeral.  Membership to this association is absolutely free from discrimination on the basis of religious belief, among others. 

To the surprise of all, Christians and Muslim brothers and sisters even cooperate in building religious shrines of one another. It is a nightmare to observe such a strong bond in most other societies— isn’t it? 

Without a shadow of doubt, the people have been passing on these virtues over generations. And the current one has constitutionalized and institutionalized the virtues by declaring equality among all religions and establishing Inter-religious Council of Ethiopia respectively. As a result, cohesive factors—brotherhood, neighborhood, friendship, respect and humanity—have further become the defining attributes of the peoples irrespective of religious orientations.  

That is why the spillover effect of religious radicalization has repeatedly failed to take roots in Ethiopia though few individuals and groups never quit toiling to import the components and assemble them here to orchestrate their destructive goals.

The ideals being promoted in the World Interfaith Harmony Week, “Love of God” and “Love of one’s neighbor”, which have already become the cultures of the people, helped to abort radicalization before it completes it metamorphosis. 

However, the wave of religious radicalization is still razing peace in most countries of the Horn of Africa. Thus, the Council should take further inspiration from the award and recognition to accelerate its activities targeting the youth. 

It has to facilitate platforms whereby the bulging youth population, who hold various religious beliefs, can build inter-faith understanding. It has to also use the media, public forums, religious ceremonies, and the like, to teach the virtues and values of the past generations. 

In addition, as the youth is so active on social media, the Council and other stakeholders should make sure that this important section of the society does not involve in all-forms of hate speech and discriminatory activities. In fact, those who always see the glass half empty involves in disseminating sensational posts on social media. To this end, leaders of various religions must aware the youth on how to chase the pessimists out of the cyber village. 

By doing so, it is the youth who, first and foremost, taste the sweet fruits of peace. It is this part of the society who fulfills its aspiration in a developed Ethiopia. The youth has all the potent to either   build or demolish the country. Thus, tasks on the youth have to be doubled, tripped and quadrupled…

The world has once again proven that it can emulate lessons from Ethiopia on matters regarding inter-faith harmony.   Hence, this heritage has to further get nurtured to keep the country’s peace and fast-tracking all-round development.

 

Timket—Humanity’s resplendent asset!  

 BY WORKU BELACHEW

Timket—the commemoration of Jesus’ baptism at River Jordan—is yet another intangible heritage which Ethiopia has preserved for millennia. The unique and colorful festivity which combines both religious and secular traditions deserves to be included among the representative list of cultural heritage of humanity.

The marvelous ritual and street festival which lasts two days (the eve-Ketera, and the holiday-Timkat), has been handed down over generations gluing the community, nurturing collective memory, promoting human creativity and contributing to the sustainable development of the country at large.   

Irrespective of differences in age, sex, culture and language, people escort the Tabots (Replica of the Arc of the Covenant) with great pomp from the respective parishes to riversides or large meadows where the festival takes place. Also, people of different socio-economic and cultural backgrounds get together and follow the liturgical services while other cultural and secular proceedings take place on the sideline.

Timket celebration has two important aspects. The grand one is the mass liturgical services which members of clergymen undertake starting from the eve of the festival until the event is wrapped up on the day of Timket with the sprinkling of sacred water up on the believers and taking the Tabots back to their respective parishes. 

The second one is the secular section which interested groups in small circles dances and chants. It allows participants to have the opportunity to exchange their culture while availing extra opportunity to tourists to observe and participate in the traditional dances and chants of the various peoples of the country. 

The Day is so unique in that even non-Christian people involve in the festivity’s secular facet. To the surprise of all, people who belong to a different faith cooperate with their Christian neighbors to see the celebration wrapped up peacefully. Any spectator can truly sense the peaceful co-existence among the peoples on this day.  

Though the celebration is part and parcel of epiphany which other Christian communities mark year in and year out, Timket in Ethiopia has been beyond compare both by the size of the congregation that partake in the event and by the liturgical, cultural and socio-economic undertakings carried out on the eve and during the holiday.

Without a shadow of doubt, the whole essence of Timkat will help in diversifying the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s prestigious list.

Since Ethiopia’s ratification of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2006, only three years behind the adoption of the Convention, the country has got three of its intangible heritages inscribed in the world’s prestigious list. Meskel (the founding of the true cross) Fichee-Chambalaalla (New Year’s celebration among the Sidama people) and Geda System (an indigenous democratic socio-political system of the Oromo) have got their right places in the UNESCO’s intangible heritage list.

The inscription of these heritages has created great enthusiasm among the people of Ethiopia motivating them to further preserve and promote the world’s asset. Likewise, if Timket joins the representative list, it further fosters the preservation efforts of the intangible heritage and increases the festival’s contribution to the overall development of the country as well.

Authority for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage (ARCCH), among other pertinent bodies, has endeavored remarkably in throwing light to the heritages of the country by including them in the national inventory system. Timkat is one among these. In addition, the stated bodies are exerting maximum efforts to illuminate the elements of the historic Timkat in order to be included in the UNESCO’s representative list.

Since last Ethiopian year, the Authority has been exerting efforts to prepare the nomination file for Timkat. Reports show that the Authority has been collecting inputs to select 10 photographs to be included in the Nomination List and to produce a 10-minute documentary footage. Tasks have continued to collect samples from places such as Wollo, Lalibela and Addis Ababa. The Authority plans to send the file to UNESCO within two months after in-depth consultations with relevant stakeholders.

ARCCH and other pertinent bodies ought to work their fingers to the bone to finalize the nomination file, and get it included in the list of world’s intangible heritages. 

The Authority has registered various heritages on the national heritage inventory. No doubt, most of them do not only belong to Ethiopia, they are also humanity’s asset. Thus, pertinent bodies, the media, and other stakeholders should maximize efforts to include them in the world’s heritage list.

           

           

Keep peace to keep fast pace  

      

Peace has been central to the rapid pace of the economic growth registered over the last decade. In light of this, the violence which has been erupting at few towns and administrative districts in recent time serves no purpose other than obstructing the ongoing efforts of transforming the nation into a middle income economy. 

For a country which has lifted itself from the abyss of extreme poverty, paying all kinds of sacrifices, such violence is highly likely to derail the hard-won gains. It erodes the age-old culture of respect among the diverse people and leads to loss of life and property. In fact, the past violence in some parts of the country has claimed the lives of citizens while posing destruction of property.  If goes unchecked, if not stopped somewhere, it would undermine the national security and will degenerate into very unpleasant situation—may also cause  a complete U-turn of  the socio-economic development— which is against the wishes of all Ethiopians and their lovers—God forbid that!

No doubt, the situation can be put at least into two dimensions. Limitations in rendering quality services to the growing demands of the public, and the large size of youth part of the population, in one hand. And abuse of power among few individuals in the leadership—using power to personal gains. This is just to be fair in the analysis. However, the hands of individuals and groups who always conspire behind the scene, and publicly as well, to see a weak and fragile Ethiopia is beyond doubt. The youths who are driven emotional are targeted by the unscrupulous individuals and groups to be used as an instrument of destruction.  

As Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn unequivocally put it in his condolence message regarding the mass shooting of ethnic Somalis in west Hararge last Sunday, a cloud is on the horizon which may lead the country to instability; hence, the government will take appropriate measures. True to his statement, appropriate and legal measures have to be taken by the government. Indeed, the range of measures ought to include probing into the genuine causes and the aggravating factors. And the measure has to be adequate enough to give the problem a lasting solution. And all who have involved in the violence, intentionally and unintentionally, should be met with stringent measures. Hopefully, the current evaluation which Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front is undertaking would come up with lasting solution.  

But the government is not the sole actor in healing the wounds. The media have to play its pivotal role in educating the youths about the value of peace, and have to urge the youths to strongly denounce doomsayers’ illusions.

The media as well should be clear and succinct in providing the youths with ample information as to what the situation in Ethiopia had been before a quarter of a century, and the remarkable changes during the last quarter of a century. Particularly, the broadcast media have to put informed insight into the current progress of the country as well as ways and means of sustaining the gains and working hard to secure more achievements.

Faith fathers and elders play no fewer roles in educating the youths and the entire faithful. In this regard, these entities should continue preaching the value of love, unity and prosperity. They as well need to show the youth the light of peaceful coexistence which the people of Ethiopia exercised for centuries.

It is clear that the people of Ethiopia have shown their unity in various times. They defended their sovereignty from foreign aggressors. They also fought inequality and dictatorship in unison. Likewise, the people are working harmoniously to list their country in the ranks of middle income economies. The entire vision of the people is to build one political and economic community. This sacred vision should not be hampered, and any sign of hindrance which stands against this noble vision should be in the strongest term possible for it helps to sustain peace and accelerate the pace in pursuing the vision.  

Wondering nature at Menz Guassa

• Weds environmental protection with livelihood

BY TEWODROS KASSA

So much could be said or written about ‘community-involved environmental protection’. But, its meaning may become more conspicuous as one visit Menz-Guassa Community Conservation Area—in North Shoa zone of Amhara State, 260 kilometers northeast of Addis Ababa.   

The place gets its name after the Afro-alpine savanna grass, Guassa, which grows 70-80 centimeters on average and to 2.3 meter if it gets fertile soil and enough water.       

Documents show that common resource management system has been known to the community since the 17^th century.  It then gets a modern shape over the last few decades.  That is why the 111 Square kilometer owe-inspiring area is still home to various fauna and flora.

About 13 mammal species shelter at Guassa—three of them endemic to Ethiopia, Red Fox (Ethiopian wolf), Gelada Baboon   and Habesha Rabbit. The area is habitat to an abundant number of Geladas counted with four digits with a recovering number of Red Foxes.

Currently, 2,500 endemic Geladas are found in Menz Guassa Community Conservation Area.

Even if red foxes are counted by only two digits, their number would surely grow as the community is protecting them.  

Ten years ago, there had been seven to nine red foxes at Guassa, research undertakings conducted on the area indicated. Data show that their current number increases by over four folds.  

Ethiopia has an estimated 500 Red Foxes. Of this, more than 47 are inside Guassa. What is more, 12 percent of the endemic bird species are only found in Guassa.

But the question one must raise at this juncture is: Why does the community intensifies the protection efforts?

The answer does not require a hard mental gymnastics. ‘Benefits’ are the driving forces behind the successful conservation efforts.

Nine neighborhoods, adjacent to Guassa, reap additional income, fodder, and above all the environmental benefits.  

The people of the neighborhoods will never tolerate any act that inflicts damage either on the wild animals or on the vegetation. Everyone knows, at least, the fauna and flora create additional income. At best, the community is well aware of the fact that the conserved area ensures the availability of water both in the river courses and in the water wells while protecting fertile soil from erosion.     

In terms of income, for instance, the community has saved 3.2 million Birr.   With this money, the community has hired professionals that better manage and develop the area. Put it another way, the community has created jobs to professionals as well.

Five years ago, National Geographic channel, Discovery Channel in collaboration with the BBC, and Japan National television each paid nine thousand USD for video capturing in the Community Conserved Area.  The community has used the money to build clinic, school and road, among others— Menz Guassa Community Conservation Area Office Head Admasu Getaneh speaks to The Ethiopian Herald.

He lauds the community’s conservation efforts including the prevention of poaching and grazing.   The ecological experts of the Office have also been modernizing the overall efforts of the people, he adds.

Hand-in-glove with the people, the Office has strived more to increase tourists’ inflow to the area. The friendly people and services have been aimed to help tourists get lasting memory of their visits. “We help them stay more nights and visit more places as well.”

Due to this, over 34 local and foreign tourists set their feet in the area even between June and August, Ethiopian major rainy season.  

Besides the monetary benefits, the people are allowed to mow the grass and share it on a regular interval.

“The community-conserved area will be open, for ten days, to residents every three years. And the people cut down an estimated 346 million Birr worth Guassa,” says Admasu Getaneh.

The people use the grass to thatch their homes. It also makes up a good cattle fodder. Farmers as well braid the grass into a rope. Local craftspersons use the grass to make traditional umbrella, Gessa. It is also an all too common to see a kind of brushes, moore, useful to clean millstone.  

As the grass has brought lavish economic advantages to the farmers, they opt for using steel sheet for roofing. There was a time that a pile of Guassa cost twice the price of a steel sheet. 

Following this, the farmers have changed their traditional grass thatched home to be furnished with steel sheet. If farmers sell ten donkey packs of Guassa, they will simply get 3,200 Birr.    

  

To cut the long story short, the area offers the people off-farm income, fodder, as well as many other benefits.

Yet, the community conservation area can generate more income both to residents and the country as well.

Despite the area’s rich natural blessings, one can say it is the least visited in Ethiopia.    Menz-Gera Midir Communication Affairs Office Head Getnet Agonafir attributes this to constraints relating to promotional works. For her, they are now doing to the best they can to promote the area using the social media.

 In addition to the lively scenery, the fauna and flora, a standard lodge with VIP rooms has also taken shape, with a keen support of Frankfurt Zoological Society.   

Especially during the rainy season, the area is highly adorable as the green Guassa covers the entire land. While one visits Menz Community Conservation Area, he/she feels like having a journey over windy-top Mountains, at an altitude that ranges between 3,200-3,700 meters.

The pressure of the wind inside the conserved area, along with the scenery of the place put extra pleasure on visitors.  

On top of this, Menz-Guassa Community Conservation Area imparts tangible lesson to other parts of the country, if not worldwide. If people genuinely cooperate and if governments create enabling condition, it is possible to conserve ecosystems, hence to turn it into economic advantages.    The surrounding residents have played a tangible role in protecting the area and the endemic animals inside.  

 To sum up, there are four exclusive reasons to travel to Guassa and visit the age-long Community Conserved Area: To easily entertain the unforgettable 111+ wildlife species;   enjoy your time with the friendly Menz community and to observe the incredible biodiversity and to be familiar with authentic culture of the community.