Thank You, Ethiopians

1. Abiy Ahmed Schools Isaias Afwerki

“…[President} Isaias [Afwerki], when visiting Gomu Gofa zone and its comforts…. mango groves, guava fruit…said the area has a lot of resources… but there is one resource he forgot. Lest he repeat it again or forgets…more than its comforts, more than the mangoes, more than the guava fruits, we have supplicating mediators, the models to the world, our pride: our elders. These elders taught us that, today, in Ethiopia, there is religion, magnanimity….”

2. Ethiopian Journalists Elevate Eritrea-Ethiopia relations over Abiy-Isaias Relationship:

“…Countries in Africa, and Eritrea and Ethiopia are no exception, base their foreign policy on personalities. The entire 20-year war and 70,000 dead was largely due to the breakdown in relationship between Isaias Afwerki (“Wedi Afom”) and Meles Zenawi (“Wedi Zenawi”.) We must base our relationship on transparent contracts and not chemistry of leaders….”

3. Ethiopian Activist Jawar tells Eritreans You Are On Your Own: Don’t Expect Us To Rescue You

Why thank him? Because he is not condescending to us.

4. Oh, Sugar Sugar

Meanwhile, Isaias Afwerki, whose favorite hobby used to be to ridicule the double-digit growth economy of Ethiopia when TPLF was in charge of Ethiopia is now (only six months later) very impressed with its economy and its sugar factory. He wants Eritrea to emulate it.

5. And then there was this:

A leader cannot selectively uphold or apply the ideals of freedom. Our PM Abiy should discuss with President Afeworki about the plight of #Eritreans and the absense of freedom and democracy in #Eritrea. @semhabte

— Mekonnen Kassa (@raskassa) October 14, 2018

Thanks, Ethiopia. We appreciate you trying to nudge Eritrea’s stalled reform movement.

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