[This article was in draft form, originally written on June 24, 2021]
Prime Minister Abiy completed his promised election in Ethiopia, with more than a dozen parties. All that is left is ballot count, and he is the clear winner.
It was extraordinary. People voted! It was not so much the "vote" but the promise that each person can have his say, and will be part of the collective, national decision. Ethiopians can have their say, is what Abiy said, and delivered. "I have a duty to chose whomever will represent me," said one, who came late after work.
And one old lady, possibly in her seventies, said: "I came happily, I came happily to choose." And her wishes for Abiy: "May they [this is is a polite, formal, way for saying "he"] live in peace...And let Ethiopia grow, let her live, let her live for us."
"Thanks be to God," says another women. "May God bless our country, and make it peaceful."
And one man says: "And the results after the election, and until the election results are revealed, then each one of us should protect our country with care, keeping the peace, as we wait for the results."
Each person, in the wisdom of the unsophisticated, simply says that he came because he was given the chance to decide.
But, there is also a unique intelligence of these sincere, and patient people. They have been through so much, and yet they are not bitter. They accepted to come with trust, and faith.
Of course, Abiy's promise is democracy, which, I am sure even he realizes is a symbolic promise, a promise that people can live their lives free from fear.
All those critics, naysayers, and those that put obstacles, whether physical, ideological, or simply diffusing subtly damning words, can now rethink their positions.
I think that this is a new era for Ethiopia. There are enemies throughout. None of the media reported on this, other than a Reuters report, and BBC-Africa report, which was more vicious than reporting. "You have war and famine in Tigray" says the female Ugandan BBC-Africa reporter, who was sent to Ethiopia for the election. "There is no war, there is no famine in Tigray," tells her the clearly irritated, but patient, Abiy, who knows who these people are and what their agenda is. He waves her off after her persistence, and walks away.
Western countries, i.e. Western liberal countries, completely ignored this. There is nothing from the US or Canada. No well-wishers for Ethiopia - Biden and Trudeau are completely silent. Nothing from England or France (Macron was supposedly Abiy's "buddy" - they are the under-fifties leaders).
I believe they want him to fail. A strong and united Ethiopia means a strong region, and who wants that? Better war and famine.
It is fascinating for all these reasons. I think it is a historical moment. And those that wouldn't see it as such, and who put obstacles in its place over these years, shame on them.